This study aims to quantify the economic burden of suicide and suicide attempts in India, focusing on the societal costs associated with these events. Recognizing the limitations of existing gross costing methods, which often overlook sector-specific impacts, the study introduces a tailored Resource-Use Measure (RUM) instrument to capture granular costs across sectors such as healthcare, law enforcement, and patient and family and their productivity losses. Additionally, it incorporates a Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) assessment using EuroQOL (EQ-5D-5L) to account for utility loss among suicide attempt survivors.

The study adopts a retrospective, incidence-based design and employs advanced statistical approaches, including nonparametric tests for subgroup cost comparisons and Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) for longitudinal data analysis. Bootstrapping and sensitivity analyses will ensure the robustness of the findings. By identifying major cost drivers such as displaced time and opportunity costs, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted economic impacts of suicide.

The findings will inform data-driven policymaking and guide resource allocation for public health funding in suicide prevention efforts. Dissemination plans include peer-reviewed journal publications, with all data anonymized and stored in adherence to ethical guidelines.