In 2025, Slovakia faced a significant increase in the number of suicides: 509 cases were recorded, which is 42 more than the previous year. This alarming statistic, published by the National Center for Medical Information (NCZI), indicates a deepening mental health problem in the country. It is especially striking that almost 85% of all suicides were men.
Who is at risk?
Data from NCZI show that the most suicides occurred in the Banská Bystrica Region (84 cases), and the fewest in the Prešov Region (39 cases). At the same time, the Prešov Region was the only region where a noticeable decrease in suicides was observed (by 20 cases), reaching the lowest level since 2008.
The most vulnerable age group was young people aged 20 to 29, accounting for 177 suicide cases. However, over 100 cases were also recorded among people in their thirties, forties, and fifties. Considering the population size in the respective age category, teenagers aged 15–19, especially girls, remain the group with the highest risk of suicide attempts, despite a slight decrease in attempts in 2025.
Causes and methods
The most common method of suicide was hanging, strangulation, or suffocation, accounting for 53% of all cases (271 cases). The second most common was jumping from a height (85 cases). In three-quarters of all suicides, the causes remained unknown.
Last year, doctors also registered 813 suicide attempts. The most attempts were in the Trnava Region (260 attempts), and the fewest in the Nitra Region (26 attempts). Almost 60% of suicide attempts were by unmarried people.
The most frequent causes of suicide attempts include conflicts and family problems, as well as existential problems, which accounted for 529 cases. It is worth noting that while in 2018 existential causes made up 8.8% of suicide attempts, last year they accounted for almost a third (32.5%) of all attempts.
Where to get help?
If you or your loved ones need support, it is important to know that there are help services in Slovakia. For example, the crisis hotline IPčko at 0800 500 333 operates 24/7 and provides free and confidential support, suicide prevention services, and psychological consultations. There is also a mental health hotline Nezábudka at 0800 800 566, which offers emotional support and crisis intervention. In emergencies, you can call the general emergency number 112 or medical emergency number 155.
For children and teenagers, the hotline Linka Detskej Istoty at 116 111 provides psychological support and suicide prevention services. More information about mental health and support can be found on our page about specialists.
Source: bratislava.zoznam.sk
