World Suicide Prevention Day: Help Must Be Available More Quickly

Every day, about three people in Austria lose their lives to suicide. These approximately 1,300 deaths per year are more than three times as many as in road traffic. Suicide is preventable - if help is available in time, emphasized the Professional Association of Austrian Psychologists (BÖP). Those affected often have to wait months for psychological support because there is a lack of places and funding. Wednesday is World Suicide Prevention Day.

Suicide is one of the most common causes of death in Austria for people under 50 years old - it is even the second most common among adolescents and young adults between 15 and 29 years old, explained the BÖP in a press release on Monday. Although suicide is one of the most preventable causes of death, a total of 1,331 people lost their lives in 2024. Men are particularly affected: around 80 percent of all cases (1,026 men and 305 women) are attributed to them.

"People in Suicidal Crises Need Immediate Help, Not Long Waiting Times"

"People in suicidal crises need immediate help, not long waiting times - even the first signs, suicidal thoughts, or just the mention of suicidal thoughts require immediate action. Only in this way can it be prevented that a crisis becomes an irreversible loss," emphasized BÖP President Beate Wimmer-Puchinger.

It is crucial that Austria creates the necessary framework conditions to effectively intercept suicidal crises, demanded the BÖP. This includes sustainable funding for clinical-psychological treatment, the expansion of crisis services, prevention programs, as well as the destigmatization through an open and responsible discourse about suicide and mental health.

Action Plan Until 2030

According to the BÖP, the national SUPRA action plan 2025 to 2030 of the Ministry of Health pursues a clear approach in suicide prevention. It focuses on the expansion of crisis services including a unified emergency number, securing suicide hotspots, and responsible media handling. It is complemented by prevention programs in educational institutions, communities, and businesses, as well as by research and quality standards. The BÖP is ready to contribute with its professional expertise to the implementation.

Are you in a desperate life situation and need help? Talk to other people about it. The suicide prevention portal of the Ministry of Health offers support for people with suicidal thoughts and their relatives. Contact details of support facilities in Austria can be found at www.suizid-praevention.gv.at. Information for young people is available at www.bittelebe.at.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.