Japan's youth suicides hit 30-year high

[sl8]

Source: Japan Today

Nov. 5 04:02 pm JST
TOKYO

Suicides by Japanese youth have reached a 30-year-high, the education ministry said on Monday, even as overall suicide numbers have steadily declined over the past 15 years.

A total of 250 children in elementary school, middle school and high school killed themselves in the fiscal year through March, up from 245 the previous year, according to a ministry survey. That was the highest since 1986, when 268 students took their own lives.

"The number of suicides of students have stayed high, and that is an alarming issue which should be tackled," said ministry official Noriaki Kitazaki.

It is difficult to determine the factors behind the increase, he said.

Read more: https://japantoday.com/category/national/japan's-youth-suicides-hit-30-year-high-survey

[BigmanPigman]

1. I wonder what the numbers in other countries are, including this one.

I would like to see it broken down by gender, age and location.

[melm00se]

3. For the US

ask and ye shall receive

https://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/leadcause.html

[BigmanPigman]

4. Thanks!

[soryang]

2. Suicide is a problem in South Korea as well

There may have been some improvement since this article was written in early 2016, but I think many Koreans and Korean Americans are aware that South Korea has a big problem with this.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/donaldkirk/2016/02/27/what-korean-miracle-hell-joseon-is-more-like-it-as-economy-flounders/#53e6bd9c4dba

The saddest aspects of Korea’s economic malaise is a high suicide rate – highest among the 34 members of the Organization of Economic Development. Suicide ranks as the top cause of death among those aged 10 to 39. At the other end of the scale, suicides are highest among those 65 and older in a society in which children are less likely to care for their aging parents than in the days of yore.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Doesn't say much for a materialistic society which puts possessions first, people last. n/t

[sakabatou]

6. Without reading the article

At least two of the factors are performance stress in school and at the job (if they can get into one).