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Japan Struggles with Suicide Rate
Posted by Renddy Rose Rodriguez
on
2/23/2009 12:43:00 AM
Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, with roughly 25 out of 100,000 people taking their lives each and every year. That translates to more than 30,000 deaths per annum. Compare that figure with the averages in the US and Britain, which are 12 and 15 out of 100,000 respectively. The awfully high figure is about to rise too, or at least so the experts in Japan anticipate. With the economic downturn, they foresee an increase in suicides this year.
A helpline serves as one resource to combat the problem. However, with 700,000 calls each year, it simply can't cope with the expected increase. There will be more calls from desperate people contemplating suicide in 2009, those who run the helpline strongly believe. Fifty call centers around Japan offer help and a sympathetic ear, and each call lasts about 40 minutes. A shortage of volunteers and money will hamper the organization, and at a time when things look quite bleak. The Japanese government currently provides ¥80 million ($875,000), a figure which falls far short of the helpline's needs. Even worse, this figure represents a 20% decrease from just a few years ago.
Within the last six months, Japanese companies have laid off large numbers of employees as the economy has soured. Medium-sized companies once relied on larger companies for orders, yet business has now dried up. Families are feeling the pinch, and homelessness has begun to surge. It seems that Japan can do little but await the coming suicides this year.
Do you agree or disagree? Why?
1. The global economy is in real trouble.
2. More and more people will lose their jobs this year.
3. I'm very worried about the economy and my job.
4. The number of suicides will increase because of the economic problems.
5. Suicide is a major problem in my country.
Talk about the following questions.
1. What are some common reasons that people commit suicide?
2. How serious a problem is suicide in your country? Please explain.
3. Do you think that the economic problems this year will cause an increase in suicides worldwide? Why/not?
4. What other problems do you think will happen because of the poor economy? Please explain.
5. How concerned are you about the economy and your job? Please explain.
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A helpline serves as one resource to combat the problem. However, with 700,000 calls each year, it simply can't cope with the expected increase. There will be more calls from desperate people contemplating suicide in 2009, those who run the helpline strongly believe. Fifty call centers around Japan offer help and a sympathetic ear, and each call lasts about 40 minutes. A shortage of volunteers and money will hamper the organization, and at a time when things look quite bleak. The Japanese government currently provides ¥80 million ($875,000), a figure which falls far short of the helpline's needs. Even worse, this figure represents a 20% decrease from just a few years ago.
Within the last six months, Japanese companies have laid off large numbers of employees as the economy has soured. Medium-sized companies once relied on larger companies for orders, yet business has now dried up. Families are feeling the pinch, and homelessness has begun to surge. It seems that Japan can do little but await the coming suicides this year.
Do you agree or disagree? Why?
1. The global economy is in real trouble.
2. More and more people will lose their jobs this year.
3. I'm very worried about the economy and my job.
4. The number of suicides will increase because of the economic problems.
5. Suicide is a major problem in my country.
Talk about the following questions.
1. What are some common reasons that people commit suicide?
2. How serious a problem is suicide in your country? Please explain.
3. Do you think that the economic problems this year will cause an increase in suicides worldwide? Why/not?
4. What other problems do you think will happen because of the poor economy? Please explain.
5. How concerned are you about the economy and your job? Please explain.
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