A Hopeful Path: Preventing Suicide in Europe
In the quiet corners of statistics lies a profound and pressing reality that demands our attention. According to the European Council data, suicide rates in Europe are concerning, with 47,252 intentional self-harm deaths reported in the EU in 2020. This represents 0.9% of all reported deaths that year, averaging 10.2 deaths per 100,000 people. Behind these numbers are individual lives, stories, and families forever changed.
Unveiling the layers of this crisis, the data underscores a gender disparity, with 77.1% of self-harm deaths occurring among men. The overall positive trend reveals a 13.5% reduction in suicide rates since 2011, a testament to the collective efforts in suicide prevention. However, there remains work to be done.
Examining the EU member states, Lithuania, Hungary, Slovenia, and Estonia grapple with higher suicide rates, while Cyprus, Malta, Greece, Italy, and Slovakia demonstrate lower rates. Regional disparities within countries, such as Hungary and France, emphasize the need for targeted interventions.
Success story: Finland
Every life lost to suicide is one too many. But let us turn to Finland, which once grappling with one of the highest suicide rates globally. Over the past three decades, Finland has achieved a remarkable feat by halving its suicide rate through national initiatives and targeted interventions—a phenomenon dubbed the "Finnish miracle."
In 1990, Finland recorded 1,512 suicides, a number that has drastically decreased to 740 in 2022, despite a population size similar to Norway. The success story stems from a national suicide prevention project conducted from 1986 to 1996, which reduced suicide rates by 13% through improved depression care, quicker detection, and enhanced treatments.
Best practices for psychiatric disorder treatment, addressing alcohol misuse, and personality disorders contribute to Finland's success. Though progress has stagnated in recent years, a new prevention project from 2020 to 2030 aims to further reduce suicide rates by enhancing education for families and healthcare professionals.
Veli-Matti Vuorenmaa, a survivor of two childhood suicide attempts, underwent two years of therapy, found recovery, and now works as an intern at Mieli Crisis Help Center. His journey reflects the transformative power of mental health support.
Finland's evolving attitudes towards suicide played an important role in its success. Initiatives like renaming the Suicide Prevention Center to the Crisis Help Center reflect a broader shift in societal dialogue.
However, challenges persist. The word "suicide" remains difficult for many older Finns to utter, and for further progress, we must foster open conversations. Changing attitudes among the youth, who are more comfortable discussing mental health, demonstrate that societal change is possible.
A hopeful path
Zero Suicide, developed by Henry Ford Behavioral Health in 2001, is a pioneering approach to suicide prevention. By setting the ambitious goal of achieving zero suicides and developing a comprehensive treatment pathway for patients with depression, they achieved remarkable results, including zero suicides for 18 months in 2009-2010.
This innovative work has spurred a worldwide Zero Suicide movement, but challenges remain, underscoring the ongoing need for effective strategies. One of the strategies they chose was to have GPs check on all their patients, asking them if they had thought about suicide.
In our pursuit of a brighter future, we must recognize the practical steps needed to confront this pressing issue head-on. Beyond statistics and success stories, the key lies in fostering open conversations, breaking the silence around suicide, and equipping individuals with the skills to navigate these difficult conversations.
The stories from Finland and the other European countries with declining suicide statistics show us that prevention is useful but there is still a lot to be done. Europe needs politicians who are willing to do what is required.
