Japan's suicide rate climbs to 10th highest in world
(Mainichi Shimbun, Japan, Sept. 9, 2004)
...the World Health Organization (WHO) has shown. Excluding the former Soviet Union and the Eastern bloc, Japan's rate of suicides per 100,000 people is the highest among advanced nations.
...Lithuania as having the highest number of suicides -- 44.7 per 100,000, based on 2002 figures, followed by the Russian Federation with a rate of 38.7 in 2002.
Japan had a suicide rate of 24.1 per 100,000 people (35.2 men and 13.4 women), raking 10th highest in the world. Figures for other countries included 10.4 in the United States for the year 2000 and 7.5 for the United Kingdom in 1999.
Commenting on Japan's suicide rate, the WHO's Mental Health division cited harsh economic conditions as a probable factor.
"Sufficient analysis has not been carried out, but work stress resulting from the recession seems to be a major reason for the increase," a division official said. "Just as Japan has a culture of 'hara-kiri,' there are probably also cultural grounds in which suicide it tolerated."