World Suicide Prevention Day is an awareness day always observed on 10 September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world since 2003. When it refers to Poland, the GrowSPACE foundation has reported a distressing surge in suicide attempts among children and adults in Poland, reaching a record high of over 2,000 attempts in 2023. Tragically, 146 cases resulted in death, marking the second consecutive year with such alarming statistics. Alarmingly in the Tricity region their were 406 attempts which is more than 1 attempt per day!

Attempted Suicides by children in Poland

Activists stress the need for urgent intervention and present recommendations to the Ministry of Health, emphasizing the importance of inter-ministerial cooperation and changes in the National Health Fund’s service valuation to address the crisis.

Poznan

Although Poznań didn’t record the highest number of child suicide attempts in Poland, with 123 attempts, it tragically leads in actual deaths, with 18 children losing their lives. This stark figure underscores the severity of the crisis in the region and highlights the urgent need for preventive action and support for vulnerable youth.

Suicide attempts by children resulting in death in Poland

As of 2023, Poland has a concerning suicide rate overall when it takes into account all ages, with about 15 people dying by suicide daily. The national trend indicates that most suicides occur among men aged 35-60, and there’s a growing issue with youth and elderly suicides.