To live and die in slovenia

Among two million Slovenians residing in a small European country, one would have a difficulty finding a person who does not have any kind of relation to the issue of suicide.

– This is an ongoing project researching and documenting the suicide issues in Slovenia. –

The first time since records of suicides in Slovenia began – 40 years ago, suicide count dropped below 400 in 2014.

Exactly 338 recorded suicides took place in Slovenia in 2014.

325 were men and 63 women.

General services, industry and construction – the leading economic fields in Slovenia were severely hurt during Euro zone crisis in 2000, resulting in 558 recorded suicides.

Yet the issue remains a taboo in society.

Men in their middle ages, mostly those who lost business and financial safety during the economic crisis which continues in Slovenia. NGOs have been involved in suicide prevention activities for over two decades, offering psychological assistance as well as help lines.

Some of the cases remain unsolved, veiled as a traffic accidents, while others are clearly suicides. Most of the suicides are committed by hanging or jumping from great heights or as a consequence of a murdering a family member and eventually committing a suicide.

In the times when Slovenia was part Yugoslavia, a notorious “Suicide Club” existed.

Members of the secretive club enlisted for a suicide. When a predecessor on the list committed suicide it was turn of the next one on the list.