Suicides on the rise in Poland

Presently, suicide is the seventh highest reason for death in Poland, with the number of people deciding to take their own lives going up from 5,791 in 2012 to 8,579 in 2013.

According to the National Psychiatric Consultant, Dr Piotr Gałecki, a rise of depression among Poles is fast becoming a problem for the country’s adult population.

“Currently, depression in the third most cited case for inability to work among the working population and by 2020 it is estimated to become the second most cited reason,” Gałecki said.

The Health Ministry is to set to create a new suicide prevention programme. “It’s aim is to being down the total number of suicides and suicidal behaviour in Poland,” said Deputy health Minsiter Beata Małecka-Libera said on Thursday.

The programme is geared towards early detection of psychological symptoms which may lead to suicidal tendencies, as well as profilactic activity among chosen high-risk groups, the minister underlined.

In 2013, 1,460,169 people received ambulatory psychiatric treatment, with 207,371 patients resident in psychiatric wards nationwide. (jb)

Source: PAP