Suicide in the Baltics highest in the world

Consideringthe situation in which many rural Lithuanians live, it's not surprising thatmany turn to a way to end it all. With houses so cold that ice sometimes formson the inside walls, many of the rural jobless start drinking early in themorning.

Suicide iscommon, rural Lithuanians say, since joining the EU in 2004, the economy hasseen rapid growth, but only for urban areas.

 
Lithuania has been ranked number one in theworld for the highest amount of recorded suicides last year, at 42 per every100000 inhabitants by the World Health Organization. Russiacomes second at around 37 deaths and Latviaand Estoniacame in at number 4 and 5 respectively.

Lithuaniansare aware of the problems they face, but say there is little they can do. Oldercitizens cannot adapt and there is little to no training to reintegrate olderpeople into society. 

Howeverthere is a bright side. Urban area groups, having seen recent monetary successdue to economic revival, have started several new programs designed to helpthose jobless in the rural areas of Lithuania, in hopes of turning thesituation around and creating a more vibrant economy that all can benefit fromand hopefully decreasing the suicide rate.

Thousandsfrom Lithuania haveimmigrated to the UK and Irelandin hopes of finding an opportunity to make more money. Though the jobs may notbe an opportunity to improve skills, with teachers becoming mushroom pickers,but the chance to make more money is motivation enough.