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KMID : 0897520070120020078
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Journal of Korean Association of Social Psychiatry
2007 Volume.12 No. 2 p.78 ~ p.86
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The Health Economic Cost Estimation of Suicide in Korea
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Park Jae-Young
Jung Sang-Hyuk
Kim Jin-Hak
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Abstract
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Objectives：This study was designed to estimate the health economic cost of suicide in South Korea by using an incidence-based approach.
Methods：We analyzed suicide data from the National Statistical Office from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004. The costs were classified as internal and external costs, and then categorized into direct and indirect costs. The medical service costs paid from suicide attempt to death were considered as the direct medical costs of the internal costs. The direct non-medical costs of internal costs consisted of ambulance, police investigation and funeral costs. The indirect costs of internal costs were computed based on the extent of discounted future earnings. Outpatient and inpatient costs comprised direct medical costs of external costs. The patient’s transportation and care-giver’s costs comprised direct non-medical costs of external costs. The indirect costs of external costs were computed by the extent to which loss of productivity might have occurred due to changes in mortality according to suicide.
Results：The number of suicide cases in South Korea was 11,523 in 2004. We assumed that all age groups had varying levels of productivity. The annual costs were estimated to be 3,838-3,856 hundred million won. This study’s limitation concerns the exclusion of cost that was not reimbursed. Also, ambulance and funeral costs might have been underestimated.
Conclusion：Our study provides significant data in estimating the costs of suicide in South Korea. The results of this study will support reasons for facilitating social intervention to prevent suicide.
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KEYWORD
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Cost, Suicide
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