by Floro Mercene
World Health Organization (WHO)’s fact sheet says that globally every year close to 800, 000 people take their own life and there are many more people who attempt suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15 -29- year-olds.
While the link between suicide and mental disorders (in particular, depression and alcohol use disorders) is well established in high-income countries, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life stresses, such as financial problems, relationship break-up or chronic pain and illness.
In addition, experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse, or loss and a sense of isolation are strongly associated with suicidal behavior.
According to Japan’s latest government white paper on suicide measures released recently, Japan’s suicide rate is the sixth highest in the world and the second worst among eight major industrialized nations. According to Japan’s National Police Agency suicide statistics, this year’s report showed that the number of people who took their own life declined to 21, 897 (15,121 men and 6,776 women) in 2016, the lowest level in 22 years. The annual total has been dropping gradually after hitting a peak of 34,427 in 2003.
Since mapping out its first policy principles on suicide countermeasures in 2007, the Japanese government has taken a series of steps, including strengthening research on the medical and social causes of suicide, setting up more hotlines, holding seminars for municipal leaders, and beefing up support for people who attempted suicide and for next of kin.
Japan’s suicide rate (the number of suicides per 100,000 people) stood at 19.5 as of 2014, the second highest in Asia after South Korea, which had a rate of 28.5 suicides per 100,000 people. Among the eight major economies, the suicide rate in Japan (data from 2011-2014) was second highest, following Russia at 21.8.