European Japan Suicide Prevention
Japan trails Western Europe in averting deaths
"Japan, with one of the highest suicide rates in the industrialized world, is far behind Western Europe in mapping out prevention strategies.
While the former Soviet Union and Eastern bloc countries still have higher suicide rates than Japan, in Western Europe, countries such as Finland and Britain are winning the fight.
Finland, the world leader in implementing prevention measures, has recorded a 9-percent drop in suicides over the past two decades.
It introduced the world's first nationwide suicide prevention measures in 1986, said Yutaka Motohashi, a professor at Akita University. At the time, Finland's suicide rate was higher than Japan's. But its three-phase intensive project has undoubtedly saved many lives.
First came research, from 1986-91, with specialists examining the causes of self-inflicted deaths.
In the second phase from 1992-96, networks were set up to reach out to the population. Basic action units were established in residential areas, workplaces and the military.
In the last stage, begun in 1997, evaluations and surveys found that the suicide rate had dropped about 9 percent from the 1986 level.
"In Finland, suicide prevention was never limited to combating depression-that was only a tiny part of the overall plan," said Motohashi. "(Rather,) Finland succeeded by creating a model that invigorated the entire society."
Britain's suicide rate ranked 57th in the world in 1999. Although its suicide rate is one-third of Japan's, prevention ranks high on the social conscience. And it has gained priority.
In September 2002, Britain's National Institute of Mental Health implemented its first national suicide prevention plan, aiming to reduce the suicide rate by 20 percent by 2010.
Specific goals included:
*Intervening in high-risk cases;
*Reaching out to a wider range of people, including those living below the poverty line and abuse victims;
*Reducing access to tools for suicide, such as by selling sleeping pills in packages of fewer tablets.
Takeo Nakayama, an associate professor at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, summed up the British model.
"Their overall suicide rate is coming down. The strategies are proving effective. Further, the government takes a flexible approach, refining the programs according to the changing circumstances... "
International Herald Tribune/Asahi: June 23, 2005
"Japan, with one of the highest suicide rates in the industrialized world, is far behind Western Europe in mapping out prevention strategies.
While the former Soviet Union and Eastern bloc countries still have higher suicide rates than Japan, in Western Europe, countries such as Finland and Britain are winning the fight.
Finland, the world leader in implementing prevention measures, has recorded a 9-percent drop in suicides over the past two decades.
It introduced the world's first nationwide suicide prevention measures in 1986, said Yutaka Motohashi, a professor at Akita University. At the time, Finland's suicide rate was higher than Japan's. But its three-phase intensive project has undoubtedly saved many lives.
First came research, from 1986-91, with specialists examining the causes of self-inflicted deaths.
In the second phase from 1992-96, networks were set up to reach out to the population. Basic action units were established in residential areas, workplaces and the military.
In the last stage, begun in 1997, evaluations and surveys found that the suicide rate had dropped about 9 percent from the 1986 level.
"In Finland, suicide prevention was never limited to combating depression-that was only a tiny part of the overall plan," said Motohashi. "(Rather,) Finland succeeded by creating a model that invigorated the entire society."
Britain's suicide rate ranked 57th in the world in 1999. Although its suicide rate is one-third of Japan's, prevention ranks high on the social conscience. And it has gained priority.
In September 2002, Britain's National Institute of Mental Health implemented its first national suicide prevention plan, aiming to reduce the suicide rate by 20 percent by 2010.
Specific goals included:
*Intervening in high-risk cases;
*Reaching out to a wider range of people, including those living below the poverty line and abuse victims;
*Reducing access to tools for suicide, such as by selling sleeping pills in packages of fewer tablets.
Takeo Nakayama, an associate professor at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, summed up the British model.
"Their overall suicide rate is coming down. The strategies are proving effective. Further, the government takes a flexible approach, refining the programs according to the changing circumstances... "
International Herald Tribune/Asahi: June 23, 2005
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