Riga - has some of the most popular hostels in the world, and also one of the highest suicide rates

I love the view from my hostel and the huge window sill, which I can use for my musings. The little black dot in the background is a dinner table that is attached to a crane. Riga- type sightseeing. My awesome view with great music from the market below prepared me mentally to do the harder part of my journey. Went to a suicide prevention center in Riga today. They warmly welcomed me without an appointment. We talked for over an hour, about the stigmatization of suicide, about networks that help those affected and those left behind, about suicide rates in Europe and how to improve the situation, about the lack of funding, about how suicide is not talked about as openly as cancer, aids or accidents and how that would be so important. We conclude suicide always turns into a philosophical discussion. Interestingly, the approach to suicide prevention is quite different to Estonia, which is just North of Latvia. Estonia has a strong collaboration with a suicide prevention center Stockholm. Estonia tries to go Nordic he says with a smile. Latvia feels more connected to Lithuania, I keep mixing those two countries up. We laugh. Happens all the time he says. We have some of the highest suicide rates in Europe, states my warm hearted interview partner, a psychologist, and part of the hotline team. We wonder how support groups can help people feel more connected and cared for. Our hotline is our main outreach, he continues, thinking,... there is much to be done.