The president of the board of the Institute for Research and Analysis of the Activities of Local Government Units presented us with alarming data on suicide attempts as early as last year. We asked commune heads, the mayor and the county head whether local governments were responding to these data. There was no answer, or it was evasive, suggesting that there was no problem. Franciszek Małecki-Trzaskoś is sounding the alarm and believes that there are several places in Poland where a red warning light should come on. One such place is the Bolesławiec area.

A reminder of the data: year on year, 2018 > 2019 (Bolesławiec County), fatal suicide attempts increased by 17%, while suicide attempts ending in survival increased by 467%.

Franciszek Małecki-Trzaskoś:

The city, county and commune authorities did not contact me—after our earlier conversation—to ask for more detailed information or assistance.

There were 9 suicides in the county in 2019; in 2020, there were already 15. The roads are safer.

In 2020, 10 people died on the roads of Bolesławiec County.

Police statistics record one in every three suicide attempts.

In Lower Silesian Voivodeship, the suicide problem is decreasing; in Bolesławiec County, it is growing.

The county authorities managed to deal with COVID-19, but they did not manage to deal with the suicide problem.

I would not directly associate “rice” and other substances with the causes of suicide.

Teachers’ task is to integrate children with their peers.

Mr. County Head, please do not ask what the government can do for the county’s residents; please consider what you can do for them.

Teachers need to be made aware of the scale of the suicide problem. They should be given basic knowledge about it, and this potential should be used.

I dream of the suicide problem becoming smaller every year.

Important information

At the Wojewódzki Szpital dla Nerwowo i Psychicznie Chorych w Bolesławcu, a Community Psychological and Psychotherapeutic Care Centre for Children and Adolescents has operated since April 1, 2020. Registration: +48 571 306 436.

Patients up to the age of 21 are accepted under an agreement with the National Health Fund (students who are still in education). Professional, certified therapists work at the centre. The centre provides:

  • comprehensive psychological assessment
  • individual, group and family psychotherapy
  • psychological and community support

Mental Health Clinic for Adults: Registration +48 571 306 367

Where can help be found in crisis situations? All helplines and support contacts: samobojstwo.pl