Mental health resources in the European Union were scarce even before the pandemic. COVID-19 has caused a tsunami in mental health, and access to care is more difficult today. About 75 percent of psychiatry services in the EU have been taking place via telemedicine, but this is not a viable option for all patients.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24. According to WHO, one person commits suicide every 40 seconds around the world.
Set up by the WHO, the European database on health in prisons (HIPED) includes data on prison mortality, disease screening, and the prevention and treatment of diseases.
The suicide rate in Balkan prisons is low compared to the rest of Europe, in part because of the different composition of the prison population.