Yin Tang ^*

• Keio University, Minato, Japan

This study focuses on the cost-effectiveness of suicide prevention and intervention (SPI) by the prefectural governments in Japan, marking the first attempt to apply a public sector efficiency evaluation model to government SPI efforts. Specifically, we utilized the three-stage Super Efficiency and Modified Slacks-Based Measure model to evaluate the implementation efficiency of SPI by the prefectural governments in Japan after eliminating the influences of exogenous environmental and stochastic factors. The findings revealed significant spatial disparities in the efficiency of SPI among prefectural governments, yet a portion of these differences can be attributed to exogenous environmental and stochastic factors, with relatively limited spatial differences in actual managerial efficiency. Additionally, we utilized the Luenberger productivity index to elucidate the reasons behind the spatial evolution or changes in SPI efficiency among prefectures. The results indicated an overall upward trend in SPI productivity, primarily driven by technological advancements, while tending to neglect efficiency improvements. Moreover, the deterioration in efficiency changes should mainly be attributed to the decline in scale efficiency. In order to further enhance the efficiency of local SPI efforts, policymakers should recognize the importance of not overlooking the impacts of external environmental and stochastic factors on efficiency. Moreover, while acknowledging the significance of technological advancements in enhancing productivity, preventing the deteriorating trend in scale efficiency is equally crucial for improving efficiency changes.