Suicide rate among Romanian teenagers, 50% higher than the European average

The suicide incidence among Romanian teenagers is well above the European average, according to the Romanian Association of Psychiatry. “In Romania, the suicide incidence is about 50% above the European average among young people aged 15-19, and 21% higher in for Romanian adults aged 50-54,” reads a statement of the Romanian Association of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (ARPP) and the Romanian Alliance of Suicide Prevention (ARPS), cited by local Mediafax. Moreover, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (2013), major depressive disorder ranks second among diseases that cause disability in Romania. Back pain is first. Most of the time, depression remains undiagnosed and is recognized only when suicide attempt occurs. Estimations show that some 10% of the Romanian population suffers from depressive disorders. Over 2,700 Romanians committed suicide in 2013, most of them were men. One in ten Romanians is depressed Study: Health and children’s future, among worries for Romanians, most are depressed and have weight problems Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com