The Optimum Expenditure for State Hospitals and its Relationship to the Suicide Rate

This article presents the results of a study that shows a direct relationship between the proportion of funds that a state allocates for state hospitals & the suicide rate. The authors found that the suicide rate was lower in states in which the percentage of funds allocated to state hospitals & to community-based services were close to the optimum theoretical proportions. Based on this, the authors argue that proper allocation of funds between state hospitals & community-based facilities is important in minimizing the suicide rate in the United States. (12 refs)