12,107 is the number of suicides involving people over the age of 60 in Japan. Remember, people over the age of 60 are including people who are in their 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 100s.
16,909 is the number of suicides involving people in their 30s, 40s and 50s in Japan.
Comparing the numbers, it's obvious that the generation of full activity commit suicide more than the generation of retirement.
However, many news reports highlighted the number of over the age of 60. Why did they combine only the number of over the age of 60 together?
I think this kind of number would hide the real problems. The problem is spreading to not only elderly people but also the younger generation. To cover up the real problem offers no solutions.
Most the suicide cases are announced as the cause of death is just heart failure. In addition the announced cases are small fraction of the real suicide figure.
As I mentioned before, the role of the mass medias tells the public the truth, and raise the right issues.
I lost a friend who committed suicide suffering depression, and lost a friend who had a heart attack from over work. Although I can't do anything, I couldn't help but comment about this...
BBC news Thursday, 19 June 2008 11:24 UK.
Suicides involving people over the age of 60 rose by almost 9% to 12,107, making up nearly 40% of all cases in Japan, the National Police Agency said.
Japan's elderly are increasingly concerned about money and rising health care costs.
Nationwide, the number of suicides rose by 2.9% to 33,093, the second-highest figure since records began in 1978.
Aging society
Japan has one of the world's highest suicide rates.
Last year ministers approved a raft of measures to try to reduce this, such as more workplace counselling and blocking websites that offer suicide tips.
But it appears that the measures have yet to yield results.
Recent months have seen a rash of cases where people killed themselves by mixing chemicals to produce toxic gas.
Police said that the main causes of suicide were depression, illness and debt.
But the elderly have been particularly hard-hit by issues linked to Japan's ageing society.
Health insurance costs have risen and people are increasingly concerned that the state will not be able to support them properly.
A recent scandal involving millions of lost pension records has exacerbated concern over social security issues.
And as the traditional family structure has changed, some elderly people are worried that there will be no family members to care for them in their old age.
