The Impact of a Suicide Prevention Strategy on Reducing the Economic Cost of Suicide in the New South Wales Construction Industry

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). 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). 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. 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. CONCLUSION: MIC represents a positive economic investment in workplace safety.