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Cultural influences on suicide in J apan
Author(s) -
Russell Roxanne,
Metraux Daniel,
Tohen Mauricio
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/pcn.12428
Subject(s) - suicide rates , suicide prevention , poison control , injury prevention , government (linguistics) , unemployment , demography , unemployment rate , psychology , recession , human factors and ergonomics , medicine , medical emergency , economics , sociology , economic growth , linguistics , philosophy , keynesian economics
Following the economic crash of the late 1990s, the suicide rate in J apan increased to a rate of over 30 000 people per year and has been one of the highest in the world. Cultural factors have influenced this high suicide rate, such as a tradition of honorable suicide as well as permissive attitudes towards suicide that remain in modern times. Additionally, the economic downturn, particularly the trend of unemployment in middle‐aged men, also played a significant role in the high suicide rate. The suicide rate has started to decrease in recent years perhaps in part due to suicide prevention measures undertaken by the government.