Suicide rate in Lithuania remains one of the highest in the EU, despite previous declines

Published on 11/10/2025 - 17:09 GMT+2

According to nan latest Eurostat data, termination rates successful Lithuania are among nan highest successful nan European Union, almost double nan EU average.

The rate, which has accrued complete nan past 2 years, is 19.6 per 100,000 inhabitants successful some 2023 and 2024. According to nan Lithuanian Institute of Hygiene, older group are peculiarly affected by problems specified arsenic loneliness.

"Statistics show that nan number of suicides has decreased successful each property groups complete nan past fewer decades, but nan diminution has been slowest successful nan 65+ property group," Paulius Skruibis, head of nan Centre for Suicidological Research astatine Vilnius University, said successful an question and reply pinch nationalist broadcaster LRT. "This group presently has nan highest comparative termination rate," he added.

According to experts, nan origin tin beryllium nan nonaccomplishment of loved ones, a wide emotion of loneliness, poverty, occupation nonaccomplishment and wellness problems. They besides constituent to taste factors, constituent maltreatment and slow implementation of affectional support programmes arsenic imaginable reasons for nan deteriorating intelligence wellness of Lithuanians.

Data shows that Lithuanians besides person 1 of nan highest rates of utmost poorness successful nan EU, pinch almost 170,000 group presently surviving beneath nan poorness line, which whitethorn beryllium contributing to nan crisis. This period is defined arsenic a monthly income of little than €500 for an individual aliases €1,000 for a family of four.

The Association of Emotional Support Services reports that helplines person an mean of 18 calls and 13 online chats per time successful narration to termination risk. Lithuania's organization is astir 2,818,398.

The Lithuanian authorities has stepped up efforts to reside nan intelligence wellness crisis. Since July, intelligence wellness lawsuit guidance services person been introduced, which see nan anticipation to person support from societal workers.

How do these figures comparison pinch those of nan EU?

According to information from 2022, Malta, Cyprus, Turkey and Greece person nan lowest termination rates successful nan EU, ranging from 4.12 per 100 000 organization successful Cyprus to 5.21 successful Malta. Italy, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Luxembourg besides person comparatively debased rates.

Slovenia had nan highest termination complaint successful nan EU, followed by Lithuania and Hungary. Belgium, Estonia, Croatia and Austria besides stay comparatively precocious successful nan rankings.