In response to a parliamentary question raised by MP Nancy Kemp-Arendt, the ministers of health and education, Paulette Lenert and Claude Meisch, confirmed that 44 young people in Luxembourg were victims of suicide over the past 25 years.
Kemp-Arendt asked if the suicide rate among young people had risen over recent months, as her sources seemed to suggest. Lenert and Meisch said the figures for 2022 were still considered provisional, but no suicides had been reported over the last 12 months among young people aged 10-19.
The ministers provided statistics on the last 25 years, showing that 44 suicides had been reported in that age group between 1998 and 2021.
On three occasions, four suicides were registered over a period of 12 months. It is also worth noting that over 75% of victims were male. The most recent deaths were reported in 2020, when three young men aged 18 and 19 took their lives.
Prevention is key
The exact reasons for the suicides have not been made known to the government. There was not always a clear indication of suicidal intention, the ministers said, although in hindsight signs could be noted.
Certain indications should always be taken seriously, such as regularly discussing death; withdrawing from friends and favourite activities; donating loved objects; researching suicide methods; and unusual risk-taking behaviour.
The national suicide plan says that prevention is key. In order to increase mental health support for young people, by 2025 some 500 school staff members will be trained to recognise risk factors in young people and act accordingly. In addition, a postvention team will be present in every secondary school. Postvention is an intervention process for relatives and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide.
The ministers said they hoped the planned reimbursement of psychotherapies will have an impact on the rate of suicide among young people, primarily through facilitating access to therapy.
People who are having suicidal thoughts can seek professional help and support from the following:
nullnullKanner-Jugendtelefon: a helpline for children and young people (also in English)
