The rate of suicide in Japan one of the highest among all industrialized nations. In 2005, more than 32,000 Japanese citizens committed suicide. To put this number into perspective, this rate is more than five times the number of people dying in traffic accidents. This has prompted officials to pass a law requiring employers to provide mental health counseling for their staff and to pursue more research related to suicide, so providers can better understand how to prevent such tragedies from occurring.
Most of the suicides in Japan are committed by males (72%) and almost half of those who commit suicide are unemployed. Officials believe the high rates of suicide in Japan are linked to money worries and job related stress.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the United States suicide is the eighth leading cause of death for men, with males being more than 4 times as likely to commit suicide. In 2001, almost 31,000 people died as a result of suicide. The rates of suicide are highest in White males, followed by American Indian and Native Alaskan men. Research has identified the following as risk factors in the US:
Previous suicide attempt(s)
History of mental disorders, particularly depression
History of alcohol and substance abuse
Family history of suicide
Family history of child maltreatment
Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
Barriers to accessing mental health treatment
Loss (relational, social, work, or financial)
Physical illness
Easy access to lethal methods
Unwillingness to seek help because of the stigma attached to mental health and substance abuse disorders or suicidal thoughts
Cultural and religious beliefs—for instance, the belief that suicide is a noble resolution of a personal dilemma
Isolation, a feeling of being cut off from other people
Fortunately, the Department of Health and Human Services has identified protective measures including: effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance abuse disorders; easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help seeking; family and community support; support from ongoing medical and mental health care relationships; skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent handling of disputes; and cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation instincts.
Posted by Dr. Jennifer Stagg on August 13, 2006 06:38 AM
