Economic burden of premature death due to suicide in Colombia between 2005 and 2021

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide is a public health problem with significant social and economic consequences. In Colombia, suicide affects mostly young people.

Objective: To estimate the years of life potentially lost and the economic burden associated with suicide in Colombia between 2005 and 2021.

Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective study to estimate the years of life potentially lost and the economic burden related to suicide from the perspective of society. We modified the human capital method and considered two scenarios. Information on suicide mortality and economic variables was collected from official sources, and indirect costs due to premature mortality were calculated. The costs are expressed in 2021 US dollars, considering the average of the 2021 representative market rate (COP $3,743).

Results: Between 2005 and 2021, 40,157 deaths by suicide were recorded in Colombia, mainly in young men between 15 and 29 years old. These deaths represented 2,104,731 years of life potentially lost. The total economic costs associated with suicide ranged from USD $4.21 billions to USD $7.1 billions in the two scenarios considered, with an average annual cost between USD $247.6 and USD $422.2 millions in each case. The most densely populated departments had the highest accumulated costs by population rates. Vaupés, Amazonas, and Quindío had the highest costs per thousand inhabitants.

Conclusions: It is necessary to address suicide in Colombia from a comprehensive and multidimensional perspective, investing in mental health programs and preventive approaches to reduce the economic burden and social impact. The results offer valuable information to design suicide prevention policies and strategies and highlight the importance of targeting specific population groups and regions.