In his reply to a parliamentary question by CSV MP Marco Schank, Minister of Education Claude Meisch specified that between six and eight young people commit suicide in Luxembourg each year.
The minister explained that, as of next school year, teachers will be able to hold fewer lessons if they invest time in a commission for suicide prevention.
Minister of Health Paulette Lenert said the suicide rates were shocking as they indicate an estimate of 70 to 80 suicides per year in Luxembourg. She explained that the number of suicide attempts was even more worrying as it is "10 to 20 times higher than that of completed suicides." According to Lenert, suicides account for 7.33% of all deaths in young people under 26. She added that the majority of the victims were between 20 and 24 years old.
The minister stressed that it is crucial to have strong prevention mechanisms in place to protect young people at a time of their life when they might feel like they have not yet found their purpose.
Paulette Lenert concluded that she also wants to reduce the waiting time to receive psychological care for suicide survivors, which can currently take up to three months.
