Suicide: a Historical Perspective With Some Implications for Research and Prevention (IN: Suicide Prevention: Public Health Significance…, by the Public Health Association of Australia Inc.)

Morrell analyzes Knibbs’ 1911 presentation which shows interpretations of Australia’s suicide rates and how they fluctuate with economic, age, seasonal & unemployment variations. Much of Knibbs’ work confirms Durkheim’s findings in his book Le suicide. Morrell compares male/female and age-group suicide rates. Statistics for firearms suicides, and suicide rates in each region of Australia are given. Morrell suggests that male suicide rates are strongly linked to the economy, politics & history.