Should We Invest in Suicide Prevention Programs?

Abstract:     
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among college aged youths in Florida. However, there is no prevention program targeting this population group. This paper examines the potential impact of making two prevention programs, general suicide education and peer support programs, available for college students. The results show that both programs increase social welfare by creating social benefits which exceed the costs of the programs. These results hold true even with conservative estimates for effect rates and benefits of the programs.

Keywords: Suicide, Suicide Prevention, Cost-benefit Analysis, Human Capital Approach

JEL Classification: I18, H43

Accepted Paper Series