Soaring Suicide Rates Jump up in Japan
Pastor Dale Morgan
Soaring Suicide Rates Jump up in Japan*
Published: June 19, 2008 at 2:04 AM
TOKYO, June 19 (UPI) -- Suicides in Japan have stayed above 30,000 for
10 years in a row, with depression blamed for most of the self-inflicted
deaths, a survey showed Thursday.
The statistics collected by the National Police Agency said there were
33,093 suicides in 2007, up 2.9 percent from the previous year, making
it the second highest after the 2003 total of 34,427.
There were 6,060 suicides resulting from depression in 2007, or 18
percent of the total, Kyodo news service reported.
Physical ailments accounted for 5,240 of the 2007 deaths. Other reasons
cited included overdue debts.
Of the 2007 suicide total, those over the age of 60 accounted for the
highest 37 percent. Suicides by those age 19 or younger decreased 12
percent to 548.
The survey warned the high suicide rate pointed to the country's
prevailing social conditions.
The report said Japan's first suicide-prevention guidelines announced a
year ago have largely proved ineffective in combating the problem with
critics saying they do not provide specific measures.