日本自殺人數連續13年超3萬
日本警察廳發佈的初期數據顯示，2010年日本的自殺人數爲31560人，連續13年超過3萬。其中，男性自殺者22178人，女性9382人，延續了男性高自殺率的趨勢。不過，2010年的自殺人數比上一年下降了3.9%，爲過去十年間自殺人數第二低的年份。日本政府從2009年9月起成立了緊急應對小組，與民衆團體和醫師合作，共同應對自殺問題。該小組推出的對策包括，增加窗口，向有心理疾病和債務負擔的人提供諮詢；根據警務策略以地區爲單位編寫預防自殺手冊等。
The number of people who committed suicide in Japan totaled 31,560 in 2010, topping 30,000 for the 13th straight year, the National Police Agency said in a preliminary report on Friday.
But the number declined 3.9% from the previous year, or a decrease of 1,285 cases, hitting the second-lowest level over the past 10 years, according to the report.
Since assuming power in September 2009, the Democratic Party of Japan-led government has taken steps to help those at risk of suicide.
The government’s anti-suicide campaigns last year appear to have had some effect as the number of people who committed suicide declined in the months immediately following the campaigns, falling 15.9% in April and 13.5% in October from a year earlier.
In November, however, the number of cases rose 10%, partially because of the prolonged economic downturn.
The number of people committing suicide declined for six months in a row in the first half of last year but rose and fell in successive months.
While 2008 and 2009 saw some months in which over 3,000 people committed suicide, the number of cases remained below 3,000 each month last year.
Of those who committed suicide last year, 22,178 were men and 9,382 women, continuing the trend for a higher number of cases among men.
The government set up an emergency strategy team at the Cabinet Office in autumn 2009 in concert with civic groups and doctors working on suicide prevention.
The team worked on measures to be implemented by related ministries and agencies, including expanding public counters where people can get advice about mental health and debt problems, and compiling region-by-region suicide prevention steps based on relevant police statistics.
The government set up a task force involving cabinet ministers last September to carry out the measures.
