When it comes to deaths due to mental and behavioural disorders related to alcohol use, in 2020, the EU’s standardised death rate was 3.6 deaths per 100 000 people, up from 3.2 deaths in 2011.
This rate was notably high in some EU countries: Slovenia (17.3 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants), Poland (10.1), Denmark (7.3), Croatia (6.5), Austria and Latvia (both 6.2). At the other end of the scale, the rate was at its lowest in Greece, Italy, Malta (all with 0.4 deaths per 100 000 people), Spain and Cyprus (both 0.5).
However, some encouragement can be taken from the fact that back in 2011 Latvia's rate was 8.87.
2020's figures show the rate was lower (5.9) for those aged under 65 than those over 65 (7.5).
The leading cause of death from mental and behavioural disorders was dementia, which accounts for 83 % of all deaths from mental and behavioural disorders in the EU in 2020. The second leading cause of death from mental and behavioural disorders was due to the use of alcohol. This was also the leading cause of death from mental and behavioural disorders in those under 65 years.
Latvia was also among the EU Member States, with the highest standardised death rate for intentional self-harm (suicide) in 2020. The highest rate was recorded for Lithuania (21.3 per 100 000 inhabitants), followed at some distance by Hungary, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia and Belgium, each with rates within the range of 15.0–17.1 per 100 000 inhabitants.
