Determining the indirect costs of suicide in Sweden: a national population-based cross-sectional study, 2010–2019

Objectives Globally, more than 700 000 people commit suicide annually. In Sweden, the yearly incidence ranges between 1000 and 1500 people, which is higher than the global average. The aim of this study is to estimate the economic burden related to indirect costs that suicide has imposed on Swedish society between 2010 and 2019. Design National population-based cross-sectional study. Participants and setting All suicides in Sweden between 2010 and 2019, using data from the Swedish National Cause of Death Registry. Outcomes Indirect costs associated with suicides, estimated using the human capital approach, including productivity loss over 1-year and lifetime horizons. Results Between 2010 and 2019, 1406 to 1591 suicides occurred annually in Sweden, resulting in approximately 26 500 productive life years lost each year. In 2019, the productivity loss due to suicides was estimated at €44 million over a 1-year horizon and €935 million over a lifetime horizon. The corresponding per-person costs were €37 000 and €778 000, respectively. Conclusions This study provides valuable insights into the economic burden of suicide on Swedish society. It underlines the potential economic benefits of effective suicide prevention, aligning with previous research highlighting the substantial returns—both monetary and in terms of human well-being—that successful prevention strategies can yield.