In these tough economic times why does the country spend money on suicide prevention?

Reasons: Suicidal thoughts and plans can come from medical/psychiatric illnesses that are just as painful and devastating as any other. They are worth treating, and people's lives can be saved. Many suicidal people are very much able, when well, to contribute meaningfully to society -- just as those with cardiac and other diseases are.

What?: Suicide is a preventable cause of death. What other preventable causes of death should we avoid spending money on - drowning (no lifeguards anywhere), car crashes (no seat belts in any cars), airplane crashes (no training requirements for pilots), infected food (no food inspections), obesity, heart attacks, strokes?