Suicides in Greece increased by almost 25% from 2020 to 2022, as shown by the annual suicide data analysed and processed by the Suicide Observatory and the Day Centre for Suicide Prevention of the KLIMAKA organisation.
In particular, in 2022, the number of suicides reached 600, which corresponds to about two per day.
However, according to the report, the total number of recorded suicides is the tip of the iceberg. The problem is not fully understood since the under-registration of suicides is a worldwide problem, according to the World Health Organization.
In more detail, the data were structured as follows:
* The vast majority were self-employed were men (78%), followed by women at 22%.
* In terms of age group, people over 60 had the highest number of suicides compared to other age groups in the population.
* In terms of gender, most deaths for men were concentrated in the ages 60-64, while in contrast, deaths in women were concentrated in the young ages of 35-39.
* The number of suicides at young ages in general (ages over 20) shows increasing trends compared to the data of 2021.
* At the level of administrative regions, the highest number of suicides for 2022 was recorded in Crete (17% of the total number of deaths) followed by Central Macedonia. Crete, according to experts, is a region with consistently high suicide rates for over a decade. The issue of the high suicide rate in Crete is of critical importance and has been a field of research interest of the KLIMAKA Suicide Observatory for years.
* The most common method of suicide at the population level was hanging, followed by falling and self-inflicted gunfire.
* Most of the self-employed belonged to the economically active population of the country and were married.
* 55% of deaths took place inside the deceased's home.
The majority of suicides occurred during the summer months (June - July - August), while the days on which the highest number of suicides were recorded were Mondays and Tuesdays. Most of the deaths took place at dawn.
Also, within 2022, 18 suicides were recorded in high-risk areas of the country (suicide hotspots), 11 in detention centres, 7 inside Transportation stations, 8 inside health units and 3 inside refugee camps.
In addition, there were at least 11 suicides of workers in high-risk occupations for suicide, such as security forces, and 3 suicides of military personnel.
Within the last year a large number of psychological autopsies have been carried out in which it was found that people who ended their lives had directly or indirectly manifested their intention to kill themselves.
It was established that there were previous suicide attempts or "rehearsals" for an attempt in the past, as well as the existence of a family history of suicide and/or mental illness, points which did not receive the corresponding attention from mental health professionals.
As stated in the report, Greece remains one of the few countries "that has not taken any institutional initiative to protect self-destructive individuals," which is a constant request of the organisation.
It is emphasised that 95% of deaths could have been prevented if timely and effective interventions had been implemented.
KLIMAKA has for years proposed clear and critical proposals, which are constantly renewed based on the data received from the Suicide Observatory.
Although the researchers did not specify the exact reason for the increase in suicides during this period, it is not a far stretch to assume that the COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding lockdowns played a contributing factor.
READ MORE: Dutch teen arrested in Greece for sexually abusing a 9 y.o. girl.
