Suicide: Consequences
Cost to Society
•The total lifetime cost of self-inflicted injuries occurring in 2000 was approximately $33 billion. This includes $1 billion for medical treatment and $32 billion for lost productivity (Corso et al. 2007).
Consequences
•Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death among Americans (CDC, 2006).
•Over 33,000 people kill themselves each year (CDC, 2006).
•Approximately 395,000 people with self-inflicted injuries are treated in emergency departments each year (CDC, 2007).
•Many people are exposed to another person's suicide which may affect them psychologically. One estimate was that approximately 7% of the US population knew someone who died of suicide during the past 12 months. (Crosby and Sacks, 2002).
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS). Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Available at: www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars. Last modified 2008 August 26.
Crosby AE, Sacks JJ. Exposure to suicide: Incidence and association with suicidal ideation and behavior – United States, 1994. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 2002; 32:321–328.
Corso PS, Mercy JA, Simon TR, Finkelstein EA, & Miller TR. Medical Costs and Productivity Losses Due to Interpersonal Violence and Self- Directed Violence. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2007: 32(6): 474–482.
