Japan has always been one of the great powers of the world. It has one of the highest economies globally and that is due to the efficiency and perseverance of the Japanese workers. However, it has one of the highest suicide rates in the world which makes it sound abnormal for such a successful country. It reached 19.5 suicides among every 100,000 Japanese. In addition, In 2003, 34,000 lives were lost to suicide and the number decreased till it reached 21,897 suicides in 2016 which is still not a number to be celebrated. Japan suicide rate may be high as many Japanese suffer from financial problems. However, to explain the “Why” we need to look at Japan’s Religions which open possibilities to commit suicide.
The number of suicides in Japan was over 20,000 persons per year but this number jumped to over than 30,000 persons per year in 1998 when the Japanese financial crisis happened, since this crisis the number have been high. The Japanese financial crisis led Japan to witness what is called “the lost decade” as many people lost their money and jobs and faced poverty and unemployment.
According to Health and Global Policy Institute, this graph shows that suicides number increased steeply in 1998 and it stayed high ever since. “Following the 1998 financial crisis, most age groups for both men and women show an increased suicide rate” (Tanisho, 2013) The article also demonstrates that the highest proportion of suicides is among the middle-aged me. “Money related issues
"More people in the general population die from suicide than homicide in North America. There are almost 11 suicide deaths each year for every 100,000 people living in the United States, and for every suicide, there are between 8 and 25 attempts" (Brent 4203). Based on this research, the great effect of suicide is displayed. According to dictionary.com, suicide can be defined as "the intentional taking of one's own life." Suicide is a major issue for all people, but it most obviously affects those ranging from ten to twenty-four. People need to understand the tremendous ramifications caused from suicide everyday; when people take their lives, others lose their loved ones. Suicide, one of the leading causes of death of numerous people each day, has reached a crisis point for adolescents and young adults, and it needs to be prevented.
Korea’s suicide rate of the elderly is nearly four times the average for OECD countries, with poverty widely understood to be an underlying factors.
Feelings of isolation have been linked to higher suicide rates. Durkheim’s study on suicide during the industrial revolution supports this theory as he states that, “people were increasingly disconnected from their communities and that this social upheaval had a greater effect on suicide rates than other factors like wealth” (Winner & Collishaw, 2011). Interestingly enough, despite the increase of media attention on suicide, no studies have been published that explain why suicide rates vary among different groups. However, various factors are involved in the decision to commit suicide. As a result, suicide rates vary according to race, gender and age.
Suicide was seen as a just way to die if one was faced with unendurable suffering - be it physical or emotional”. Throughout time, suicide has been viewed and dealt with in countless ways. Recently in America, the problem has grown increasingly. In the past decade, suicide rates have been on the incline; especially among men. According to the New York Times (2013), “From 1999 to 2010, the suicide rate among Americans ages 35 to 64 rose by nearly 30 percent… The suicide rate for middle-aged men was 27.3 deaths per 100,000, while for women it was 8.1 deaths per 100,000”. A 30 percent increase with an average of 19 more male suicides than female suicides is certainly an issue for both genders, and an epidemic for men. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (n.d.), found that in 2010, 38,364 suicides were reported, with 78.9% being men. The economic recession, unemployment, and various other factors are speculated to be responsible for this incline in male suicide. As of 2010, an estimated 30,308 men ended their own lives, and it seems as if there is a great risk of that number increasing each year.
China’s suicide rate is among the highest in the world. Globally, men are more likely to die by suicide but women are more likely to attempt it. This is the case for most countries but China is one of the few in which women are more likely to die by suicide. According the World Health Organization, in 1987-1999 the suicide rate per 100,000 people was 15-13 for men and 20-15 for women. China’s suicide rates has decreased dramatically since the 1990s, however a study done in 2008 by Samuel Law and Pozi Liu shows that the ratio of suicide of women and men more or less keeps on being around 3:1. Law and Pozi also found this ration to be the same for rural to urban suicides. Young females suicides in rural areas of China were a major contribution to suicide rates of China during 1990s. This may be due to the cultural-socioeconomic disadvantages that Chinese rural females hold. In this essay, the possible causes for such high rates in young females suicides in rural China will be explored and comparison as well as connections will be made to Sociologist and Philosopher Emile Durkheim’s thoughts on suicide.
Over the past decade suicide rates have been either stagnant or have been decreasing over all of the demographics of people. One demographic of people's suicide rate, on the other hand, has risen at a substantial rate. Scientists and researchers have just started studying this trend and have yet to draw one specific reason on why middle aged white males suicide rates are climbing. The suicide rate for this demographic of people has just surpassed the deaths by automobile accidents. This recent epidemic has got many researchers and scientists asking the question of “why?”.
In this economy, I keep seeing a case of history repeating itself. Optimism and rapid economic growth dominated the 1920s. So much so that this time period gained the nickname of “The Roaring Twenties.” The economy seemed like it would just keep going up and up forever. But then in 1929 it all came crashing down into a depression. In recent years, we experienced this same rapid expansion and contraction. Whenever the economy contracts so suddenly, we experience a rise in depressed behavior. “During the Great Depression in the United States, suicide rates hit a 99-year high (of 17 per 100,000 people)” (Elmhirst 26). When the recession began, suicides went up again. In the time between 2007 and 2008, calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Suicide is the act of killing yourself. It is the 11th leading cause of death in America (CDC 2009). I have never had any intentions on committing suicide and I never really understood why people commit suicide that’s why I chose this topic to help me understand what problems people go through that makes them do such a thing. Sociology is the study of social behavior and the culture of humans. There are numerous reasons like financial stress, family problems or mental health disorders that lead to suicide. The number one cause of suicide is untreated depression. The issues that were just listed are some social conditions from society that results in a suicidal
Substantial cost of suicide exists within American society. The National Institute of Medical Health (NIMH, 2017), asserts that in 2013 suicide cost the United States economy 50.8 billion dollars. However, the CDC (2015) estimated in 2010, the cost of 44 billion dollars with 1,164,499 dollars spent per suicide for individuals over the age of ten. This cost reflects medical treatment and loss in productivity. Unfortunately, CDC (2015) reports that most individuals who engage in suicidal behavior never go on to seek treatment for their mental illness.
An increase in the global statistic of suicide rates has sparked a worldwide concern in mental health where it is put
Curtin, Sally C., M.A., Margaret Warner, Ph.D., and Holly Hedegaard, M.S.P.H. "Increase in Suicide in United States, 1999-2014." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 Mar. 2017. Web. 23 Mar. 2017. .
Consequently, the economic impact of completed suicides in 2010 falls around $44 billion annually. This is because the economic burden tends to effect working age citizens more often than those who commit suicide (2015). However, non-fatal suicide attempts cost around $2 billion annually for hospitalization costs, and another $4.3 billion is spent on indirect costs such as the loss of wages over an extended period of time (2015). Although these costs seem to be more of a private trouble rather than a
According to the American Psychological Association, and based on the national suicide rates in 2007, suicide was the 8th leading cause of death for Asian-Americans, and the 11th leading cause of death for all racial and ethnic groups combined. The second leading cause of death for Asian-Americans between the ages 15-34 was suicide. Among all Asian-Americans, 20-24 year olds had the highest suicide rates of all (Heron, M. 2011). Above all, Asian women have a higher suicide rate than males (Xu, J.2010). A significant amount of research and many studies of suicide among Asian Americans reveal many factors that play a role in these high numbers.
If Ra Mi was an American women it would not be an ‘honorable’ act to commit suicide. Currently, Japanese individuals are not finding it honorable either, and are currently attempting to lower the suicide rates in Japan (Chambers, 2010). There is never a good reason to commit suicide, while it seems like the easy way it effects so many individual that are still alive. In Japan suicide is the leading cause of women aged 15-34 and men aged 20-44 (Chambers, 2010). These numbers need to be changed rather than glorifying that act as a universe there
Suicide is defined as “The action of killing oneself intentionally” within both South Korea and Wales. Suicide is seen as a huge social issue in both Wales and South Korea, both countries have seen a huge rise in suicide rates in the last decade but South Korea disproportionately sees a higher rate of suicide. Both countries are experiencing a rise in suicide rates and so, suicide is seen as a huge social issue, with government and non governmental bodies aiming to combat it. In my investigation I will not only be researching who this issue affects and what issues seem to be the main cause for the growth in suicide rates, but also responses and ways people have tried to tackle this problem. To do this I will have to follow my aims, which