Suicide in Greece

Greece is not considered a major suicidal country. Greece was the country with the lowest suicide rate in Europe according to a research done by WHO in 2012.[1] Greek suicide rates are also among the lowest in the world, a fact that is attributed to various factors, such as the mentality of the Greek society and the climate of the country.

Greece has one of the lowest suicide rates of any high-income country.

Suicides used to occur more frequently in earlier periods of Greek history, such as during the Greek Civil War of 1946, where many lost their relatives in the war.[2]

Some sources suggest that the number of suicides occurring in Greece may be underestimated. The act may be sometimes concealed by family members for religious or other social reasons.[3]

There are also cases, such as those of Dimitris Christoulas or the 45-year-old teacher Savvas Metoikidis, where their decision were a form of protest to the current economic situation in Greece.

Suicides in Greece by year[4]
Year Number
1999 381
2000 382
2001 334
2002 323
2003 375
2004 353
2005 400
2006 402
2007 328
2008 373
2009 391
2010 377
2011 477
2012 508
2013 533
2014 565
2015 529
2016 484
2017 465
2018 567
2019 530


Suicides by region and methods

The region with the highest suicide rate in Greece is Crete, followed by Thessaly and Attica in the second and third place respectively.

The most common suicide methods are hanging and jumping from height. [5]

Gender and age

As in the case of many other countries, the proportion of men (76%) dying from suicide is higher than that of women (24%).

The age groups with the highest frequency are people aged 60-64 and 80 or over. [6]

Suicides of young people include the deaths of the 20-years old judo athlete Eleni Ioannou and 25-years old football player Giannis Koskiniatis in 2004 and 2008 respectively. In 2012, a 36-year old woman also committed suicide by jumping from a 6th floor balcony in Pagrati, Athens. [7]

Greek Intervention Hotline for suicide

There is an organization in Greece that aims to prevent suicide. Those contemplating suicide or know someone who suffers from major depression are encouraged to call the number 1018.[8]

References
  1. Jakub, Marian. "Suicide rates by country in Europe".
  2. "«Η αυτοκτονία δεν είναι θυσία» (Suicide is no self-sacrifice)". 23 April 2012.
  3. "Ανακοίνωση της Εκκλησίας για την αυτοκτονία στο Σύνταγμα". Archived from the original on 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2012-07-14.
  4. Sources: Hellenic Statistical Authority for years 1999-2016, Hellenic Police' Division of Informatics for years 2017-2018
  5. "Αυξάνονται οι αυτοκτονίες στην Ελλάδα: Οι θλιβεροί αριθμοί (Suicides are increasing in Greece: The sore numbers)". 10 September 2020.
  6. "Στατιστικά στοιχεία παρατηρίου αυτοκτονιών (Statistical data of suicides' observatory)". 14 July 2020.
  7. "Έδωσε τέλος στην ζωή της πέφτοντας από τον 6ο όροφο πολυκατοικίας στο Παγκράτι". 15 November 2012.
  8. "24ωρη γραμμή παρέμβασης για την αυτοκτονία".
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