Citation

Knox KL, Caine ED. Am. J. Public Health 2005; 95(11): 1898-1903.

Affiliation

University of Rochester Medical School, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2004.047217

PMID

16195529

PMCID

PMC1449456

Abstract

A substantial literature on risk factors for suicide in the United States now exists. National engagement in actions to institutionalize suicide prevention will be critical. Identifying groups in the United States that contribute disproportionately to the public health burden due to suicide is clearly timely. To this end, we compared age and gender specific mortality rates, age and gender specific estimates of years of potential life lost and age and gender specific present value of lost earnings that individuals would have contributed to society had they lived their full life expectancies. Men in the middle years of life contribute disproportionately to the public health burden due to completed suicide. The substantial burden evident in this group has not translated into a public health priority.