Internal Crises and External Enemies: Suicide as a Symptom and Reflection of Space and Time in Socialist Slovenia

Lecture by Dr Meta Remec, Research Associate, Institute of Contemporary History, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

This presentation explores the phenomenon of suicide in socialist Slovenia during the post-World War II era, within the context of Yugoslavia. In this period, suicide became a symbol of underlying societal issues, prompting extensive suicidological research. Despite significant economic growth, low unemployment, and rising living standards, Slovenia experienced a persistent increase in suicide rates, consistently surpassing the national average of Yugoslavia. Scholars attributed this alarming trend to the region's history, culture, and traditions, citing Slovenia's Habsburg heritage and a Central European mentality marked by tenacity, modesty, perfectionism, and self-aggression. However, critics of the socialist regime viewed the rising suicide rates as a reflection of the regime's ideological failure, signalling widespread disillusionment and alienation, especially among youth.

Drawing from police and State Security Service (SDV) reports, memoirs, newspaper articles, and materials collected by investigators, including suicide notes and witness statements, this presentation offers insight into the social conditions in Slovenia during the 1960s. It examines the discourse surrounding suicide in the media, as well as the perspectives of authorities, psychiatrists, psychologists, and criminologists. The presentation also explores the methods employed by the socialist regime to manage public perception and control citizens. The second part focuses on the police investigation into the suicides and suicide attempts of nine young individuals from prominent families, whose deaths, due to their social engagement and privileged status, attracted significant public attention. These incidents were seen by authorities as especially problematic, drawing attention to the intersection of personal tragedy and political narrative.