Croatia reports surge in self‑harm hospitalisations among teenage girls

Data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health show a steady rise in hospitalisations for intentional self‑harm in Croatia. Between 2013 and 2017 more than 7,500 cases were recorded, and analysis of 2017‑2023 figures revealed 7,563 admissions for deliberate self‑injury (27.5 per 100,000 inhabitants). When incidents with uncertain intent are included, the total climbs to 12,225 cases (44.5 per 100,000).

The highest rates were observed in 2022, while 2020 saw the lowest, a dip linked to the COVID‑19 pandemic. Girls aged 15‑19 are the most affected group, with a peak rate of about 147 per 100,000 in 2022. Women generally have 24 % lower rates than men for intentional self‑harm, but when uncertain‑intent cases are counted, men’s rates are about 7 % higher. Carmen Corda Orlovic of the mental‑health service at the Croatian Institute of Public Health highlighted the need for systematic trend monitoring and targeted preventive interventions.

The findings underscore a growing mental‑health challenge among adolescents in Croatia and call for expanded preventive measures.