Competent authorities of the Central Bosnian Canton are investigating the suicide cases of four minors from Vitez. Of particular concern is the fact that all minors lived in the same neighborhood, Jardol near Vitez, knew each other and attended the same school. While investigations are ongoing, experts warn of an increasing incidence of impaired mental health among young people.
That statistical data are not and should not be just a sum of numbers on paper is an example from last year when 375 suicides were recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina, of which a significant number were younger people. And the 40% more suicides last year compared to 2021 indicates that all the alarms are on. These are the data of the Statistical Office, after which no one took any action. That we as a society are in a big problem is evidenced by the recent suicide of a minor in Jardol near Vitez, the second of its kind this year. Unfortunately, two other minors from the same neighborhood committed suicide in the recent past. Investigative authorities, within their own frameworks, conduct investigations into these cases.
HASAN HODŽIĆ, spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior of the SBK
“Also, in the past two years, reports of two such cases have been received. In these cases, the Ministry cooperates with the competent cantonal prosecutor’s office in order to undertake all measures and actions prescribed by law.”
In specific cases, prosecutors on duty were informed about unfortunate events, cases were formed in the Prosecutor’s Office, and the Prosecutor’s Office undertook measures and actions aimed at verifying the circumstances under which the deaths of minors occurred.
The Vitez Mental Health Center warns that as a society we are not responding adequately to the risks of mental health impairment, especially among children and young people who make up as much as 30% of the patients who use the Center’s services.
Similar data, according to our interlocutor, are also at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Health professionals point out that today’s children and adolescents face a whole series of new challenges. That is why, they say, it is very important to talk openly about everything with children and young people every day.
KLEMENTINA NUK-VUKOVIĆ, head of the Vitez Mental Health Center
“These are topics such as sexting, screen violence, various forms of violence, especially emotional violence, which often slips under our radar somewhere, so that we don’t notice it at all, and it causes enormous damage. Even different forms of emotional violence are still somehow considered acceptable.”
Schools, that is, educators, play an important role, especially due to the difficult economic situation and the busyness of parents who often work two jobs in order to provide children with basic material conditions. They share the same opinion in education, noting that it is very important to implement the long-announced reform of education as soon as possible, which should leave teachers and teachers more space for education.
SELVEDIN ŠATOROVIĆ, Independent Union of Basic Education of FBiH
“The role of the educational system is very important, it is very important how these reforms will be carried out, and for that reason, I appeal to the educational authorities that when creating reform processes, they should return the main role to those who will implement these reforms, namely educators.”
In the not-so-distant past, the domestic public was shocked by several cases of suicide committed by children and young people. Almost nothing was done, which, among other things, resulted in the case from Vitez that is being talked about again
everyone, and if something similar happens again, it is high time to look for those responsible for the lack of activities to improve the mental health of children and youth in BiH.
