Detecting determinants of suicidal ideation: South Australian surveillance system results.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the self reported prevalence of suicidal ideation in South Australia and to examine the relationship of suicidal ideation with a range of risk, social and demographic factors and related health issues using data collected in a risk factor surveillance system.


METHODS
Data were collected using a monthly risk factor surveillance system where each month a representative random sample of South Australian is selected from the Electronic White Pages with interviews conducted using computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI).


RESULTS
In total, 4.7% of South Australian, aged 16 years and over, were determined to have suicidal ideation. There was no change in the trend over the years when surveys between 1997 and 2005 were compared. A wide range of variables were significant with suicidal ideation at the univariate level. In the final multivariate model, marital status, money situation, psychosocial stress (K10), physical activity, fruit consumption, health service use and mental health service use proved to be best joint predictors of suicidal ideation.


CONCLUSIONS
Suicidal ideation in the community has not increased (or decreased) over time and questions assessing suicidal ideation can be used effectively in a surveillance system.
Taylor
Anne
A
Population Research and Outcome Studies Unit, Department of Health, South Australia. anne.taylor@health.sa.gov.au
Dal Grande
Eleonora
E
Gill
Tiffany
T
Fisher
Laura
L
Goldney
Robert
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004493:Education; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013021:South Australia; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention