TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - The impact of a suicide prevention strategy on reducing the economic cost of suicide in the New South Wales construction industry
JO  - Crisis
A1  - Doran, Christopher M.
A1  - Ling, Rod
A1  - Gullestrup, Jorgen
A1  - Swannell, Sarah
A1  - Milner, Allison
SP  - 121
EP  - 129
VL  - 37
IS  - 2
N2  - BACKGROUND: Little research has been conducted into the cost and prevention of self-harm in the workplace. AIMS: To quantify the economic cost of self-harm and suicide among New South Wales (NSW) construction industry (CI) workers and to examine the potential economic impact of implementing Mates in Construction (MIC). <br><br>METHOD: Direct and indirect costs were estimated. Effectiveness was measured using the relative risk ratio (RRR). In Queensland (QLD), relative suicide risks were estimated for 5-year periods before and after the commencement of MIC. For NSW, the difference between the expected (i.e., using NSW pre-MIC [2008-2012] suicide risk) and counterfactual suicide cases (i.e., applying QLD RRR) provided an estimate of potential suicide cases averted in the post-MIC period (2013-2017). <br><br>RESULTS were adjusted using the average uptake (i.e., 9.4%) of MIC activities in QLD. Economic savings from averted cases were compared with the cost of implementing MIC. <br><br>RESULTS: The cost of self-harm and suicide in the NSW CI was AU $527 million in 2010. MIC could potentially avert 0.4 suicides, 1.01 full incapacity cases, and 4.92 short absences, generating annual savings of AU $3.66 million. For every AU $1 invested, the economic return is approximately AU $4.6. <br><br>CONCLUSION: MIC represents a positive economic investment in workplace safety.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0227-5910
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000362
ID  - ref1
ER  -