Suicides decline in Carinthia, especially among young people

The number of suicides in Carinthia appears to be declining in 2026, particularly among children and adolescents, ORF reports. Experts from across Austria discussed the latest developments in Klagenfurt on Thursday as part of Yellow September, an Austria-wide campaign month for psychosocial health.

Carinthia has one of Austria’s highest suicide rates, but this year could mark a change, said Elmar Dobernig, a psychotherapist and emergency psychologist. He cautioned that the year is not over and that experts are still looking for explanations, but said the figures so far point to fewer suicides than in recent years.

In 2025, 109 people, most of them men, died by suicide in Carinthia. The proportion rises with age, Dobernig said. There were no children and very few adolescents among the victims, while the number increased among young adult men and continued to rise with age.

Child and adolescent psychiatrist Ellen Auer-Welsbach confirmed the decline. However, she said suicidal thoughts and self-harm among adolescents were increasing.

Prevention at high-risk locations

Experts are still analysing why the number of suicides has fallen. One possible reason is prevention at high-risk locations, where suicides occur more frequently. Signs displaying a telephone number for people in distress have been installed at these locations. Experts agreed that the signs had saved several lives.

Auer-Welsbach said raising public awareness was important. Everyone who has relationships with other people could make an important contribution, she said, not only psychiatrists, psychologists and psychotherapists.

Help in a crisis

Reports about possible suicides can worsen the situation for people in crisis. Support is available from services across Austria and in the individual provinces.

Austria’s telephone counselling service can be reached free of charge at any time on 142. The Rat auf Draht service for children, adolescents and young adults is available on 147.