The number of suicides in Lithuania has almost halved over the last seven years, the Institute of Hygiene reported on Friday.
According to its data, there were 30.84 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015 and 18.6 in 2022.
“Suicide is a global public health problem. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 800,000 people die every year because of suicide” the report said.
World Suicide Prevention Day is celebrated on September 10.
At a press conference organised by Vilnius Municipality’s public health bureau on Friday, psychotherapist Paulius Skruibis said that significant changes have been taking place in Lithuania since 2000 when there were 45 suicides per 100,000 people.
Experts also note that the gap between male and female suicide rates is narrowing, but men are still four times more likely to take their own lives. Suicides among men accounted for more than a quarter of all deaths from external causes in Lithuania last year.
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