Mentoring Could Save Victoria Millions — and Young Lives
A new analysis has revealed that youth suicide costs Victoria up to $90 million every year, with each young life lost carrying an economic burden of approximately $3.5 million.
The report, The Economic Benefit of Funding Mentoring to Prevent Youth Suicide in Victoria, highlights that evidence-based mentoring programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters could deliver significant savings for government, while also transforming the lives of at-risk young people.
"Youth suicide is not only a profound human tragedy but also an avoidable financial burden," said Mark Watt, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia. "By investing in mentoring, we can keep young people connected, supported, and safe — saving lives and saving the state tens of millions of dollars each year."
In 2023, 26 Victorians under the age of 18 died by suicide — an 86% increase on the previous year. Preliminary figures for 2024 suggest the crisis continues. Suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15–24 (AIHW, 2023).
The report estimates:
Each youth suicide costs ~$3.5 million (lost productivity, direct, and bereavement costs).
The total annual burden in Victoria is $70–90 million.
If mentoring reduced youth suicides by just 20%, the state could save $17.5 million annually.
A $5 million investment in mentoring could support 500 at-risk youth each year, paying for itself many times over.
"Mentoring is one of the most cost-effective interventions available," Mr Watt said. "For around $10,000 per young person per year, we can make a lasting difference. Even preventing just two or three suicides annually offsets the entire cost of the program."
Call to Action
Mr Watt is urging government, philanthropy, and the corporate sector to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters to scale mentoring across Victoria, so no young person is left to struggle alone.
