“Horror in Sarajevo: A man committed suicide by jumping from a hotel building”, “Tragedy in Živinice: A man committed suicide in his family’s house”, “Creepy case near Čelić: The doctor who committed suicide was only 27 years old”.
An increase in cases
These are the headlines of tragic suicide cases that have occurred in the last six days alone. Although police statistics confirm that there was a decrease in the number of suicides compared to last year, the fact that there was an increase in suicides among younger age groups is still worrying.
According to data from the Federal Police Administration (FUP), 97 suicides were recorded in the territory of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the first nine months, which is 23 or 19.17 percent less than in the comparative period of 2024. According to the age structure, one minor committed suicide, and three cases were recorded between the ages of 18 and 24, while one more was recorded between the ages of 25 and 30. As many as 10 cases were recorded in the age group between 30 and 40 years, and 15 in the group between 40 and 50 years…
23 women
When it comes to the gender structure, the perpetrators were men in 74 cases and women in 23. Most suicides were committed in the area of Zenica-Doboj Canton, 25, which is five more than in Sarajevo Canton. 16 people committed suicide in Tuzla Canton, and 10 in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. Eight people took their own lives in Central Bosnia Canton, and six in Una-Sana Canton, while four suicides each were registered in West Herzegovina and Posavina Cantons.
Three suicides were recorded in Canton 10, and one in Bosansko-podrinjsko.
Hanging and jumping from a height is the most common way
– Observed according to the method of execution of suicides in the territory of FBiH, hanging is the most common. As many as 58 suicides were committed that way, followed by jumping from a height, drowning, firearms, hand grenade activation, poisoning…
Suicide is one of the most tragic outcomes that psychological suffering can lead to, says Vildana Zrnanović-Hasanović, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, in an interview with “Dnevni avaz”.
The causes of suicide are complex and multi-layered, and most often it is a combination of biological, psychological, social and environmental factors.
– These are depression, anxiety, personality disorders, traumatic experiences, chronic stress, life crises, feelings of hopelessness and isolation, all of which can contribute to the feeling that “there is no way out”. Statistics show that young people between the ages of 15 and 30 are at the highest risk, as are middle-aged men. Young people often experience intense emotional crises, with the pressures of society, success and belonging, while middle-aged men often suffer in silence, trapped between the role of “the one who must be strong” and the feeling of inner suffering – Zrnanović-Hasanović tells us.
In particular, it indicates that families carry the burden of grief, guilt and questions of “why”, that they often struggle with the feeling of stigma and condemnation of the environment.
– Research shows that close family members after suicide have an increased risk of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts after the loss, as well as the risk of repeating suicide within the family – she says.
He emphasizes that mental health is not a luxury, but a basic need, and that early recognition of signs of suffering and risk can save lives, he writes Avaz.
– These include changes in mood, social withdrawal, expressions of hopelessness, loss of interest in activities, and increasingly frequent thoughts of death. At times like these, an open, non-judgmental conversation and professional help can make the difference between life and death. As a psychologist, I witness every day how important it is when someone is seen and heard. People often don’t want to die, they want the pain to stop. When we give them space to talk about that pain, so that they don’t have to bear it alone, we give them back hope that change is possible. Each of us has a role in the prevention of suicide – emphasizes Zrnanović-Hasanović.
