Epidemiology and Economic Burden of Suicide Among Brazilian Workers: Trends, Occupational Disparities, and Gender Differences

Abstract

Objectives

Suicide among workers represents a significant public health concern with substantial economic implications. This study aimed to analyze temporal trends in suicide cases and estimate the indirect costs of premature mortality among Brazilian workers from 2008 to 2022.

Methods

We analyzed data from Brazil’s Mortality Information System for workers aged 18 to 65 years. Indirect costs were calculated using the Human Capital Approach, considering lost productivity until retirement age (65 years). Sociodemographic characteristics, occupational factors, and regional variations were examined.

Results

A total of 121 880 suicide cases were identified, showing a 68.35% increase from 2008 to 2022. Males represented 84.65% of cases. The accumulated indirect costs amounted to R$26.31 billion (US$5.04 billion). The estimated lifetime indirect cost was R$71 billion (US$13.6 billion) for men and R$14 billion (US$2.9 billion) for women. Rural workers (16.5%) and construction workers (7.07%) had the highest number of cases, whereas management and judicial system positions showed the highest per-case indirect costs. Cases peaked at age 30, with most deaths occurring at home (60.3%). The South region showed disproportionately high suicide rates relative to its population.

Conclusions

The significant increase in suicide cases and substantial indirect costs highlight the need for targeted prevention strategies, particularly for young adults entering the workforce and high-risk occupations. The findings emphasize the importance of workplace mental health interventions and occupation-specific prevention approaches, considering both the frequency of cases and their economic impact.