1. Cost-effectiveness of media reporting guidelines for the prevention of suicide.
- Author
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Flego A, Reifels L, Mihalopoulos C, Bandara P, Page A, Fox T, Skehan J, Hill NTM, Krysinska K, Andriessen K, Schlichthorst M, Pirkis J, and Le LK
- Subjects
- Humans, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Quality-Adjusted Life Years, Australia, Suicide Prevention
- Abstract
Introduction: Media guidelines for the responsible reporting of suicide are a recognized universal suicide prevention intervention. While implemented in numerous countries, including Australia, little is known about whether they are cost-effective. We aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of Mindframe, the national initiative implementing media guidelines in Australia., Method: We conducted a modelled economic evaluation (5-year time-horizon) incorporating two types of economic analysis: (i) return-on-investment (ROI) comparing estimated cost savings from the intervention to the total intervention cost, and (ii) cost-effectiveness analysis comparing the net intervention costs to health outcomes: suicide deaths prevented and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). We also included uncertainty analyses to propagate parameter uncertainty and sensitivity analyses to test the robustness of the model outputs to changes in input parameters and assumptions., Results: The estimated ROI ratio for the main analysis was 94:1 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 37 to 170). The intervention was associated with cost savings of A$596M (95% UI: A$228M to A$1,081M), 139 (95% UI: 55 to 252) suicides prevented and 107 (95% UI: 42 to 192) QALYs gained. The intervention was dominant, or cost-saving, compared with no intervention with results being robust to sensitivity analysis but varying based on the conservativeness of the parameters entered., Conclusion: Mindframe was found to be cost-saving, and therefore, worthy of investment and inclusion as part of national suicide prevention strategies., (© 2022 The Authors. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Association of Suicidology.)
- Published
- 2022
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