Over 30,000 commit suicide for five consecutive years

In Japan, 32,143 people committed suicides in 2002, an increase of 1,101 from the previous year. For the fifth year in a row, the number was more than 30,000, according to data released on July 24 by the National Police Agency. Last year's figure is the third highest since the agency began to collect data in 1978.

As reasons that drove them to kill themselves, "health" problems (14,815 cases) ranked at the top, followed by "economic or livelihood" problems (7,940), and "family" problems (2,746).

Suicides from "economic or livelihood problems" showed a record high increase of 1,095 from 6,845 in 2001 to 7,940, which occupied most of the total increase in the past year. Most of the increase came from debts, hardships in life, and unemployment.

By age, those aged 60 or older made up the largest group, 11,119, followed by those in their 50s at 8,462, indicating that suicides of those at mid-age and elderly accounted for over half of the total.

A civil institute commented on the statistics with a result contradictory to an estimate that the number of suicides will decrease. The analyst stated that Japan's suicide issue should be regarded a social problem rather than a medical one.

Under the prolonged recession, small- and medium-sized businesses are facing money shortages with insolvent debts, said the analyst. (end)