World Suicide Prevention Day: EU action addressing and preventing suicide

Suicide is a major public health challenge worldwide, taking away the lives of over 720 000 people every year. 

In the EU, in 2021, there were 47 346 deaths linked to suicide, which corresponds to an average of 10.2 deaths per 100 000 people. 

The situation for young people is particularly alarming. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 15-19 after road accidents. The 2022 Health at a Glance report showed that 1 in 2 young Europeans declared to have unmet needs, and that depression among young people more than doubled. The 2023 Flash Eurobarometer on mental health reported that 59% of young people (16-24 year old) had an emotional or psychosocial problem (such as feeling depressed or feeling anxious) in the previous 12 months. 

World Suicide Prevention Day takes place on 10 September to change the narrative on suicide and encourage citizens, governments and civil society to start conversations that can help prevent it.

To support EU countries and stakeholders in addressing mental health problems, the Commission adopted in 2023 the Communication on comprehensive approach to mental health, with ambitious flagship initiatives and almost €1.3 billion in funding opportunities. The focus is on supporting vulnerable groups, including children and young people. 

The EU Best Practice Portal on Public Health features a dedicated EU repository on best and promising practices on mental health. These are proven and concrete initiatives that are available for inspiration and possible transfer. 

Through the EU4Health programme, the Commission is supporting actions on suicide prevention by funding projects and initiatives promoting mental health among vulnerable population groups at risk of suicide or self-harm. An example of this is the Joint Action (JA) PRISM, under which EU countries are supported with €6 million to collaborate in the transfer of three best practices from the EU Best Practice Portal on Public Health.  

One of these best practices is the BIZI programme, an initiative designed to strengthen suicide prevention. It consists of an online, interactive and free course that equips non-health professionals such as social workers, educators, pharmacists and police officers, as well as volunteers, with the core competences needed to identify persons at risk of suicide, provide initial psychological support and encourage referral to specialised services.

The programme responds to the fact that only a small proportion of people who die by suicide have contacted specialised services beforehand, mainly due to stigma and lack of knowledge. BIZI addresses this gap by providing accessible training to those who can act as gatekeepers.

The training has been transferred to 13 European countries after a process of translation, cultural adaptation and technical deployment of the original online course, resulting in a total of 19 implemented versions that involve public authorities, healthcare organisations and community-based institutions. Its methodological approach ensures that the programme is adapted to each local context, language and healthcare system, while preserving its core components.

Among the key achievements of BIZI, there is the consistent effort by implementation sites to embed the programme into existing institutional structures, such as national suicide prevention strategies, already established digital learning platforms and professional training systems, demonstrating BIZI’s capacity to strengthen suicide prevention efforts at the local, regional, national and European level.

Background   

EU4Health is the fourth and largest of the EU health programmes. The EU4Health programme goes beyond an ambitious response to the COVID-19 crisis to address the resilience of European healthcare systems. The programme provides funding to national authorities, health organisations and other bodies through grants and public procurement, contributing to a healthier Europe.   

HaDEA manages the vast majority of the total EU4Health budget and implements the programme by managing calls for proposals and tenders from 2021 to 2027.