Croatia’s suicide rate falls within EU average

ZAGREB, Sept 10 (Hina) – The World Health Organization estimates that over 800,000 people commit suicide in the world annually, and Croatia has an EU average mortality rate, the Vrapce psychiatric hospital in Zagreb said on Thursday on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day, which is observed on September 10.

That’s one person every 30-40 seconds, with 10-40 times more attempted suicides, Vrapce said, adding that Europe has the highest suicide rate (15.4 per 100,000 inhabitants), followed by Japan (14.3/100,000) and Southeast Asia, while it is lowest in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean (Greece, Turkey, North Africa).

Suicide is committed in every age group and is the second leading cause of death globally in the 15-29 age group.

In 2018, Croatia registered 679 suicides and the mortality rate was 6.6 per 100,000 inhabitants, which is the EU average, Vrapce said.