Suicide rate in Japan

[Dotanbatan]

Very thorough Wikipedia entry on suicide in Japan.
Suicide in Japan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The suicide rate has dropped in the last few years and is now in the high 20000s compared with the low 30000s for over 10 years before that. I've not heard any explanation for the decrease nor can I think of any.

A major reason for the recent reduction in Japanese suicides has been a change in the Law.
This change has meant that suicide is now considered, not as a death based on the free will of a person, but as a death forced on a person who has been driven to a psychologically or socially difficult situation. This has allowed the Federal Government to use funds to directly tackle Japan's Suicide problems.

A current budget of US$356 million is seeing local governments and private organisations put in place programs and services that target bullying, suicide awareness and counselling.
One such program called 'inochi no monban' (gatekeeper for life), has had a big impact already. The program nurtures people who can detect suicidal tendencies among people and advise such people to go to experts. They include people from all walks of life ranging from doctors and lawyers to snack bar owners and barbers who can serve as gatekeepers for life.

Japan still has a long way to go, but the the attitude does seem to be changing.

 

[Mike Cash]

A major reason for the recent reduction in Japanese suicides has been a change in the Law.
This change has meant that suicide is now considered, not as a death based on the free will of a person, but as a death forced on a person who has been driven to a psychologically or socially difficult situation. This has allowed the Federal Government to use funds to directly tackle Japan's Suicide problems.

A current budget of US$356 million is seeing local governments and private organisations put in place programs and services that target bullying, suicide awareness and counselling.
One such program called 'inochi no monban' (gatekeeper for life), has had a big impact already. The program nurtures people who can detect suicidal tendencies among people and advise such people to go to experts. They include people from all walks of life ranging from doctors and lawyers to snack bar owners and barbers who can serve as gatekeepers for life.

Japan still has a long way to go, but the the attitude does seem to be changing.

That is interesting. Do you have a link to information about the change in the law?

(Japan doesn't have a Federal government).

 

[undrentide]

Maybe this one. I've just skimmed it, to me it looks more like just a guideline to local municipalities how to prevent suicides. (But I could be wrong.)
自殺対策基本法（平成十八年法律第八十五号）

 

[Mike Cash]

Maybe this one. I've just skimmed it, to me it looks more like just a guideline to local municipalities how to prevent suicides. (But I could be wrong.)
自殺対策基本法（平成十八年法律第八十五号）

Thanks. I saw and read that earlier. That may be a starting point for what he was taking about but it can't be the whole thing. On its own it is bareboned and seemingly toothless, to the point one could suspect it of having been passed just so politicians could have something they could point to and say they had done something. Of course, it may not require more than that; the language of the law is sufficient for justifying new spending to meet the responsibilities it lays out.

 

[Dotanbatan]

This is a whitepaper from the Japanese Government detailing the development of the laws and their policies.
It's very long, but has a lot of interesting info in there.
内閣府ウェブサイトの常時暗号化による「https:」への切り替え - 内閣府

 

[mrrobot]

@Mark of Zorro - Great answer on the homicide / suicide issue. I hope the Japanese ppl do look a little deeper on why someone would be pushed to hurt themselves. Is there suicide hotline in Japan?