Shocking statistics: Over 500 suicides annually in Greece

Globally, there have been 738,753 recorded suicides since the start of the year, according to real-time data from Worldometer. This number increases daily.

Family psychotherapist Emilia Axiotidou, a scientific collaborator at the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, shared these insights on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10.

According to data from the suicide prevention center KLIMAKA and its 24-hour intervention line (1018), in 2023, the center received more than 20,750 calls. Since 2022, at least 1,500 people have committed suicide, based on the Suicide Observatory’s records. Additionally, between 2022 and 2024, there were 57 suicides on public transportation and 163 at known suicide hotspots.

Axiotidou also highlighted that suicide attempts outnumber actual suicides by 20 times, emphasizing the need for accurate data and understanding to improve prevention strategies.

Axiotidou provided guidance on how to recognize warning signs and help someone considering suicide, such as changes in behavior, expressions of hopelessness, and impulsive actions.

Source: AMNA