Psychiatr Hung. 2026;41(1):44-52.
ABSTRACT
Between 1985 and 2024, Hungary’s annual suicide rate gradually decreased from approximately 46 per 100000 people to approximately 17 per 100 000 people (i.e., by approximately 63 percent), while the number of patients receiving medication for depression increased twelvefold. Studies confirm that more widespread and effective treatment of depression has played a key role in this significant decline in suicides. There have been two periods of stagnation in the decline in suicide rates over the last 40 years: the first was between 2007 and 2011, while the second has been ongoing since 2019. These two periods were characterized by suboptimal functioning of psychiatric care and reduced access to care. Keywords: Hungary; suicide rate; suicide; antidepressants.
PMID:42502910
