Supporting Others: Prosocial Behavior as a Life-Saving Force

Luxembourg, March 20, 2025 — In a compelling addition to the 2025 edition of the World Happiness Report (released each year on March 20, marking International Happiness Day), STATEC’s Research Department unveils a study spotlighting the protective power of prosocial behaviors—like donating, volunteering, and helping others—in saving lives.

The Decline in “Deaths of Despair” (2000–2019)

“Deaths of despair”—those resulting from suicide, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse—have been steadily decreasing since 2000, both in Luxembourg and across many middle- to high-income countries. In Luxembourg specifically, the rate dropped from approximately 31 to 20 per 100,000 people (an adult population of about 520,000 in 2019).

On average, across 59 countries, the trend saw reductions of nearly 5 deaths per 100,000 over the period; countries like Lithuania and Latvia, which started at higher baseline rates, recorded the sharpest declines.

Vulnerable Groups: Men & Older Adults

The burden of deaths of despair falls disproportionately on men, particularly those aged 60 and above. In Luxembourg, the 2019 rates were:

• Men: 28.3 per 100,000
• Women: 12.4 per 100,000
• Men aged 60+: 39.9 per 100,000

Globally, men are nearly four times more affected than women; individuals aged 60+ face more than twice the risk compared to those aged 15–29. Suicide accounts for about 75% of these deaths, followed by alcohol and drug-related causes.

The Power of Prosocial Behavior

The study quantifies the impact of prosocial actions: a 10-percentage-point increase in the share of people who engage in such behaviors correlates with a reduction of one death per 100,000 people per year. For Luxembourg’s adult population, that equates to approximately 5.2 lives saved annually.

Youth Benefitting Most in Substance Abuse Decline

Improvement in younger cohorts is especially notable. Among those aged 15–29, drug-related deaths plummeted by 25.3 per 100,000 for males and 7.6 for females. In fact, currently there are virtually no recorded deaths from drug or alcohol abuse among women aged 15–29 in Luxembourg.

A Decline in Prosocial Behavior — A Cause for Concern

Ironically, while prosocial behavior helps curb deaths of despair, its prevalence has been declining. In Luxembourg, the proportion of people engaging in such behaviors fell from 42.8% in 2009 to 35.0% in 2019.

Key Takeaways

• Prosocial behavior matters. Actions like volunteering and helping others not only enhance well-being but also save lives.
• Demographics matter. Men—especially older men—remain at much higher risk of self-harm or substance-related death.
• Youth Gains. Substance-related deaths among young women have nearly vanished—a major public health victory.
• Danger ahead? With prosocial behaviors declining, the protective effect could weaken. Supporting social bonds is essential to maintaining this buffer.

Why It Matters

This study offers a powerful insight: fostering a culture of kindness and mutual support isn't just uplifting—it’s literally life-saving. Policymakers, community leaders, and organizations may wish to encourage volunteering, donations, and social cohesion, particularly targeting vulnerable groups like older men.  


Read Here  : Supporting others: how prosocial behaviour can prevent deaths of despair - Statistics Portal - Luxembourg
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