Economic Impact of Youth Suicides and Suicide Attempts (IN: Report of the Secretary’s Task Force on Youth Suicide. Volume 4: Strategies for the Prevention of Youth Suicide)

In economic & human terms, youth suicide in the U.S. is a growing public health problem. When costs of attempted suicide are added in, the costs of suicide are even higher. Costs include: loss of life expectancy, loss of economic productivity, medical & legal costs, & loss of quality of life for family & friends of suicide attempters or completers. Relative to its social & economic importance, youth suicide is currently receiving a disproportionately small share of public health resources. (CM)