Japanese suicides top 30,000 for eighth straight year

The number of suicides in Japan rose marginally last year, keeping the toll above 30,000 for the eighth straight year, amid a spate of suicide pacts forged over the internet.

The number of people who killed themselves rose 0.70 per cent to 32,552 in 2005, from 32,325 in 2004, the National Police Agency said. Japan’s suicide rate is among the highest in the industrialised world.

The police report highlighted a recent disturbing trend in Japan for group suicides oganised over the internet.

A record 91 people killed themselves in 34 internet-linked suicide pacts last year, up from 55 deaths in 19 cases in 2004, according to the agency.

The number of internet suicide pacts has almost tripled since 2003 when the agency began keeping records.

As in past years, poor health was the biggest reason for suicides in 2005, accounting for 40 per cent of those who left suicide noes, the agency said in a statement.

Economic and financial woes from debts and poor business accounted for 31.4 per cent. Other reasons included overwork or human relations at job sites.

Although Japan’s economy started to improve last year, more than a decade of stagnation had forced many people into bankruptcy or unemployment. Japan’s jobless rate averaged 4.4 per cent last year, down from 4.7 per cent in 2004.

Nearly half of those who committed suicide last year were unemployed. Men aged 40 or older comprised 73 per cent of the total. Men accounted fr nearly two-thirds of total suicides.

Japan has budgeted hundreds of millions of yen for programmes to help those with depression and other psychological conditions.

Yesterday, Japanese legislators completed preparations for a bill aimed at reducing the country’s high suicide rate. The bill, written by bipartisan parties, calls on the central government and local authorities to take steps aimed at preventing suicides, while providing aid and care to the families of tose who commit suicide.

The bill also calls on employers to establish measures for offering mental health care to employees.