The number of deaths by suicide in Europe decreased by 13% in a decade

In 2021, there were about 47,000 deaths due to suicide in the EU, according to Eurostat.

Transcript

00:00The number of deaths by suicide is falling in the EU.

00:04In 2021, there were about 47,000 deaths due to suicide in the bloc, according to Eurostat.

00:11The figure represents 0.9% of all deaths reported that year.

00:16It's the equivalent of an average of 10.2 deaths per 100,000 people.

00:21Compared with 2011, the number of deaths by suicide decreased by 13.3%.

00:28Even one suicide is one too many.

00:31So the fact that we have had a decrease of suicide rate by 13% in the EU

00:36and, of course, a slower decrease on suicide in the rest of the world,

00:42however, means one thing and one thing only,

00:45that we should not celebrate, but we should take the lessons.

00:49Among EU countries, Slovenia registered the highest rate of suicide in 2021,

00:54with 19.8 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

00:58It's followed by Lithuania and Hungary.

01:01At the opposite end of the scale,

01:03Cyprus recorded the lowest standardised death rates for suicide,

01:07with 2.7 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

01:10It's just ahead of Greece and Italy.

01:13Despite the slowing rate of suicide,

01:16gaps in treatment for mental health conditions in Europe remain high,

01:20Dr. Ledia Lazzeri says.

01:23Yet beyond health professionals,

01:25other stakeholders must be involved in suicide prevention, she claims.

01:29We need also as strong a collaboration with, for instance, police.

01:33We need as strong a collaboration as with justice and prisons,

01:37because a good number of suicides are taking place in institutions like prisons, for instance.

01:43We need a good collaboration with schools.

01:46We need a good collaboration with the workplace, the employer market.

01:50In 2021, the World Health Organisation published Live Life,

01:54an implementation guide for suicide prevention in countries.

01:58It lists strategies that have proven to be effective in preventing suicide.

02:03The first one is limiting access to the means of carrying out suicide,

02:07including guns, pesticides and bridges.

02:10The second is to collaborate with the media for more responsible reporting of suicide.

02:15A third strategy is to help the population improve its socio-emotional skills.

02:20Last but not least, another strategy is learning to identify suicidal behaviour early.

02:26Never be shy of talking about suicide with a person that you think is contemplating to complete a suicide.

02:34And in that way, you gain time and you are probably saving a life,

02:38just because you are talking about their biggest challenge

02:42and you are giving them a chance to take it out of themselves.