Open AccessEconomic and epidemiological impact of youth suicide in countries with the highest human development index
Author(s) -
Christopher M. Doran,
Irina Kinchin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0232940
Subject(s) - gross domestic product , human development index , per capita , years of potential life lost , poison control , high income countries , suicide prevention , productivity , economic cost , injury prevention , index (typography) , epidemiology , demography , occupational safety and health , socioeconomics , economic growth , geography , environmental health , medicine , economics , human development (humanity) , developing country , population , life expectancy , sociology , neoclassical economics , pathology , world wide web , computer science
This research estimates the economic and epidemiological impact of youth suicide in countries with the highest human development index. The study relied on secondary analysis of suicide mortality data for youth aged between 15–24 years in countries with the highest human development index–Norway, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Singapore, Netherlands, Ireland, Canada and the United States. The impact of youth suicide is measured using years of life lost, years of productive life lost and present economic value of lost productivity. Costs are expressed in 2014 International dollars. Future earning potential is estimated using adjusted gross domestic product per capita, employment potential and historical trends in productivity and real interest rates. In 2014, an estimated 6,912 young people living in the most developed countries in the world lost their lives to suicide. These preventable deaths resulted in a loss of 406,730 years of life at a cost of $5.53 billion in lost economic income with the average cost of suicide estimated at $802,939. The United States stands out as a country with the most significant youth suicide problem accounting for 77% of total costs. Reducing youth suicide requires a multifaceted approach and significant investment by governments.