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Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.
Poland last year recorded the largest year-on-year decrease in deaths by suicide since 2015, a new report published by the Polish Association of Suicidology has revealed.
The report, which is based on an analysis of police statistics, showed that the number of deaths by suicide in 2024 was 4,845, a 7.4% decrease compared to 2023 when it was 5,233. There has been a 21.4% drop across the past 10 years.
Last year, the number of deaths by suicide decreased in all age categories. However, the number of attempted suicides saw a year-on-year increase for all ages.
“While…every suicide and suicide attempt is a tragedy that should not be taken lightly, we are pleased that the data show we are moving in the right direction,” said deputy health minister Wojciech Konieczny during a press conference organised by the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology’s Office for Preventing Suicidal Behaviour.
Mamy pierwszy od 10 lat tak duży spadek samobójstw. W porównaniu do 2014 roku to ponad 20%! pic.twitter.com/eqpja2mo7G
— Monika Kotlarek (@psycholog_pisze) January 20, 2025
The largest decrease in deaths by suicide between 2023 and 2024 was recorded among children and adolescents, falling by more than 12% to 127. A drop of almost 9% was also seen in the 19-64 age group, among whom 3,714 died by suicide.
“This is a huge success for all those involved in helping people in a suicide crisis,” Halszka Witkowska, vice president of the Polish Association of Suicidology, said at the press conference.
The smallest decrease was recorded among seniors (those aged 65 and older), among whom there was a 1.2% drop from 1,008 in 2023 to 996 in 2024.
The report also revealed that the number of attempted suicides has increased among all age groups. In 2024, 10,154 attempts were recorded – almost 6% more than in 2023.
Witkowska claimed that for many years, people were ashamed to report suicide attempts, leading to underestimated statistics. “The increase is therefore also due to the fact that stereotypes and fears are being overcome.”
Seniors were the only age group to record last year more deaths by suicide (996) than suicide attempts (540).
“Preventing suicide among seniors is difficult because they are the ones who often hide their mental state. They don’t want to talk about it, they don’t want to make trouble,” added Witkowska.
Number of deaths by suicide among those aged 65 and older (women in pink, men in blue, total in grey; image credit: Polish Association of Suicidology)
The data also show gender differences. Out of the approximately 13 people that die by suicide each day in Poland, as many as 11 are men.
Meanwhile, girls under the age of 19 attempt suicide disproportionately more than their male peers. In 2024, 1,599 girls attempted suicide, compared to 455 boys.
“In this context, we need to pay attention to social media, which strongly influences the lowering of self-esteem and the pursuit of unrealistic ideals,” Witkowska said.
Girls, she explained, may be exposed to various internet phenomena such as sextortion – when sexually explicit images of someone are obtained with the purpose of blackmailing them – as well as cyberbullying and deepfakes, all of which increase the risk of a suicide attempt.
A record number of suicide attempts by children and adolescents have been recorded in Poland this year
Police data show over 1,500 by the end of September, already more than in the whole of 2021.
For more, see our report: https://t.co/cBthaVVBhM pic.twitter.com/VxDU93a1LM
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) October 27, 2022
“Add to this the taboo that is still present in relation to rape and sexual harassment, young girls who experience [these crimes] often remain silent…leaving them with huge scars and suffering,” Witkowska continued. That might lead them to attempt suicide in an effort to regain control.
In recent years, attempted suicides among minors have more than doubled. Experts point to the underfunded, overstretched and outdated mental health support system and the lack of psychiatric support during the pandemic as culprits.
The Polish education ministry last year shared with teachers, clergy and social workers guidelines for suicide prevention. Such resources are also available for police officers, who often come into contact with those at risk of suicide.
"People with mental disorders are thought of as a threat to be isolated. In this regard, little has changed in 100 years."
We speak with doctors, former patients and experts about the problems facing Poland's underfunded and outdated mental health system https://t.co/g0kIPh9gFj
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) May 1, 2020
The government plans in 2025 to introduce guidelines and training for suicide prevention among probation officers and employees of any institutions for minors, such as youth detention centres.
“We must continue to work together and provoke emotional first aid all the time,” said Witkowska. “Contrary to the common belief that asking about suicide attempts can make things worse, the exact opposite is true.”
Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.
Main image credit: Demeter Attila / Pexels
Agata Pyka is an assistant editor at Notes from Poland. She is a journalist and a political communication student at the University of Amsterdam. She specialises in Polish and European politics as well as investigative journalism and has previously written for Euractiv and The European Correspondent.
