Self-Defense Force Suicides
Record number of SDF members committed suicide in fiscal 2004
"A record 94 Self-Defense Force (SDF) members committed suicide in fiscal 2004, surpassing the previously record of 78 in 2002, according to Defense Agency statistics a Diet politician obtained.
Tomoko Abe, a House of Representatives member from the Social Democratic Party, learned of the figure while investigating one particular suicide case.
Agency statistics show that 64 members from the Ground SDF committed suicide in fiscal 2004, followed by 16 from the Maritime SDF and 14 from the Air SDF...
... We guess that they committed suicide over family troubles or due to illness, but we don't know why the number was so high," a Defense Agency official said.
The number of SDF members who committed suicide stood at 73 in fiscal 2000, followed by 59 in 2001, 78 in 2002, and 75 in 2003.
Military affairs journalist Isaku Okabe said that mental care programs for SDF members should be considered."
Mainichi Shimbun, Japan, May 20, 2005
"A record 94 Self-Defense Force (SDF) members committed suicide in fiscal 2004, surpassing the previously record of 78 in 2002, according to Defense Agency statistics a Diet politician obtained.
Tomoko Abe, a House of Representatives member from the Social Democratic Party, learned of the figure while investigating one particular suicide case.
Agency statistics show that 64 members from the Ground SDF committed suicide in fiscal 2004, followed by 16 from the Maritime SDF and 14 from the Air SDF...
... We guess that they committed suicide over family troubles or due to illness, but we don't know why the number was so high," a Defense Agency official said.
The number of SDF members who committed suicide stood at 73 in fiscal 2000, followed by 59 in 2001, 78 in 2002, and 75 in 2003.
Military affairs journalist Isaku Okabe said that mental care programs for SDF members should be considered."
Mainichi Shimbun, Japan, May 20, 2005
<< Home