Japanese Suicides Top 30,000 For 13th Year In A Row
By KUNA
The number of people who committed suicide in Japan last year stood at 31,690, topping 30,000 for the 13th year in a row, with health problem topping the list of reasons for suicide, the government said Friday.
The number of suicides in 2010 fell by 1,155 from the year before, the government said, adding that men accounted for 70.3 percent of the total cases.
The suicide rate was the highest among those in their 50s and 60s, followed by those in their 40s, it said.
Of the total, 15,802 people killed themselves due to health problem, and 7,438 people committed suicide due to financial difficulties and hardships of life.
In order to curb suicide numbers to less than 30,000, the government plans to take stronger prevention measures, including enhancement of consultation services for jobless people and heavy debtors.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), Japan has the second-highest suicide rate after Russia among the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations.
