Suicide rates continue to fall. In 2021, 913 people committed suicide in Flanders. The figure remains a high one, but it is again slightly lower than a year earlier. Over the longer term, there does seem to be a big decrease, says Flemish Minister for Well-being Hilde Crevits (Christian democrat).
The figures for 2021 are the latest available. In Flanders, 913 people died as a result of suicide. This works out at about 2.5 suicides per day. Most sucides are men, around 70%, while West and East Flanders provinces have the highest death rates.
Overall suicide rates fell compared to 2020. For men there is a slight decrease of 1%, but for women there is an increase of 22%, especially in the 15-29 age group.
Minister Crevits has commented on the latest figures: "The number of suicides has fallen, even by a third since the year 2000. This is good news, but we remain a region in which figures are high. Certainly the group of women under 30 is of extra concern to us, because there - unlike in other groups - we see an increase."
Anyone with questions about suicide can contact the Suicide Line on the toll-free number 1813, or online zelfmoordlijn1813.be. In need of a chat? Then you can contact Tele-Onthaal 24/7 on the number 106. You can also chat via www.tele-onthaal.be. Young people can contact Awel on telephone number 102, or via chat at awel.be.