Citation

Shepard DS, Gurewich D, Lwin AK, Reed GA, Silverman MM. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2015; 46(3): 352-362.

Affiliation

Education Development Center Suicide Prevention and Resource Center, Waltham, MA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/sltb.12225

PMID

26511788

Abstract

The national cost of suicides and suicide attempts in the United States 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.

Language: en