Suicide in the Australian Mining Industry: Assessment of Rates among Male Workers Using 19 Years of Coronial Data

Abstract

Background: International evidence shows that mining workers are at greater risk of suicide than other workers; however, it is not known whether this applies to the Australian mining sector. Methods: Using data from the National Coronial Information System, rates of suicide among male mining workers were compared to those of three comparators: construction workers, mining and construction workers combined, and all other workers. Age-standardized suicide rates were calculated for 2001–2019 and across three intervals ‘2001–2006’, ‘2007–2011’, and ‘2012–2019’. Incidence rate ratios for suicide were calculated to compare incidence rates for mining workers, to those of the three comparative group..