Economic cost of suicide of culturally and linguistically diverse populations in Australia

Abstract

Background: Suicide and self-harm pose significant global public health challenges and have substantial economic implications. Recent evidence from Australia has indicated significant variations in the prevalence of suicidal behaviours and mortality among diverse populations. Aim: This study aims to examine the economic cost of suicide among culturally and linguis-tically diverse (CALD) migrants in Australia. Methods: We evaluated the economic impact of suicide by considering years of life lost, years of productive life lost, and overall economic costs, including direct, indirect, and intan-gible costs. We used data on suicide deaths in 2020 from the National Coroners Information System. Results: The estimated annual economic cost of these suicides is $2.9 billion (in 2023 dol-lars). The average cost per suicide is $8.04 million for males and $9.23 million for females. The value of a statistical life year is the most significant cost driver, representing 94% of the total economic burden. Limitation: These estimates do not capture costs associated with suicidal ideation, thoughts or self-harm attempts, which may substantially increase the economic burden. Conclusion: This study emphasises the significant economic impacts of CALD suicide in Aust-ralia and highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive national suicide prevention pro-gram tailored for diverse populations.