The poor European economy is being blamed for what many are calling "economic suicides."

Since the recession began there in 2008, more people have committed suicide citing financial reasons, the Washington Post reports.

"People are more and more uncertain about their future, which is leading to a sharp rise in mental health problems," Maria Nyman, director of Brussels-based Mental Health Europe, told the Post.
    
A study published in the journal Lancet points out the rise in suicides can especially be seen in the hardest hit economic countries. 
 
The Greek Ministry for Health reports in a single year the suicide rate increased from 2.8 suicides to at least five for every 100,000 people.

According to World Health Organization's mental health program manager Matt Muijen, the increase in mental health problems is also affecting people's physical health.

That in turn, he explained, is negatively impacting European economies.

"The recovery of the European economies is dependent on the mental health of the population," Muijen warned.