The system of prevention of suicide behavior: experience of Belarus

During the period of 1990-2013 Republic of Belarus was the country with high level of suicides - more than 20 cases per 100,000 population. The peak of the suicide rates in general population has been registered in 1996, when 3632 suicides have been committed in Belarus and the suicide rate was 35.8 cases per 100,000 population. The peak of the suicide rates in urban population has been registered in 1996, when the suicide rate accounted for 29.1 cases per 100,000 urban population. The peak of the suicide rates in rural population has been registered in 2003, when the suicide rate was 57.4 cases per 100,000 rural population. During the period 1995 - 2005 the suicide rates in general population have not reached the numbers lower than 30 cases per 100,000 population. The marked and persistent tendency of suicide rates reducing has occurred in 2004. The suicide rates have fallen below 30 in 2006 and accounted for 29 cases per 100,000 population. This tendency has become remarkably clear in 2009 following the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for Suicidal Behavior Prevention in the Republic of Belarus. During the next three years, from 2009 to 2012, the suicide rates have decreased by 7.8 cases per 100,000 population (from 28.3 (abs. fig.: 2735 cases) to 20.5 cases per 100 000 (abs. fig.: 1944 cases)). Thus in 2014 it was the first time in the history of Belarus as an independent state that the official suicide rates in general population have become less than 20 cases per 100,000 population - 18.3 (in 2013 - 20.1).