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Suicide and Suicidal Attempts in the United States: Costs and Policy Implications
Author(s) -
Shepard Donald S.,
Gurewich Deborah,
Lwin Aung K.,
Reed Gerald A.,
Silverman Morton M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/sltb.12225
Subject(s) - per capita , productivity , actuarial science , demographic economics , environmental health , occupational safety and health , business , medicine , demography , medical emergency , economics , economic growth , population , pathology , sociology
The national cost of suicides and suicide attempts in the U nited S tates in 2013 was $58.4 billion based on reported numbers alone. Lost productivity (termed indirect costs) represents most (97.1%) of this cost. Adjustment for under‐reporting increased the total cost to $93.5 billion or $298 per capita, 2.1–2.8 times that of previous studies. Previous research suggests that improved continuity of care would likely reduce the number of subsequent suicidal attempts following a previous nonfatal attempt. We estimate a highly favorable benefit–cost ratio of 6 to 1 for investments in additional medical, counseling, and linkage services for such patients.