Psychiatrist: Worrying number of suicides in Serbia

Simic told the Beta news agency that the fact that approximately 1,000 people in Serbia commit suicide each year is worrying because this is a very high figure.

“It is encouraging that the lowest number of suicides was recorded in 2022, and this gives hope that suicide prevention centers are useful, because judging by the number of calls to helplines, they help in the most difficult moments of someone's despair or intention to take one's own life,” said Simic.

Commenting the fact that over 40 percent of the 9,801 suicides were committed by people over 65, Simic said suicide rates have been particularly high among the elderly for quite some time now.

“There are several reasons why the elderly decide to commit suicide,” said Simic, listing malignant diseases, their refusal to be a burden to the family and to go to nursing homes.

“Also, this population often suffers from mental disorders that include depressive elaborations and suicide. Another reason is loneliness, estrangement, alienation...,” said the psychiatrist.

She also mentioned the category of people living below subsistence level.

“Illnesses are ‘expensive’. Medical treatment is inaccessible, medication is far too costly,” said Simic.

According to the data of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (RZS), there were 9,801 suicides in Serbia from 2013 to end of 2022.