Lecturer Name: PARK Naesun

Muhammad Umar Farooq

Registration No. 37-116214

Vulnerable Phenomenon (Suicide)

1.1 Introduction & Background It is very serious topic and I am feeling very sad while discussing about it. Japan is one of the countries whom peoples comes in top hardworking nations and also comes in the most disciplined nation of the world. Despite that now a days in Japan, Suicide has become a significant national social-issue. In a nation that has one of the worlds highest standards of living, the unemployed and the aged are dying of starvation and their deaths can go unnoticed and undetected for months. This tragic phenomenon labeled "lonely death" is on a rise in Japan where poverty, culture of shame and reluctance to ask for welfare assistance is contributing to tragic and lonely demise among the aged and the jobless. The rate of suicides has also increased among those in their 20s, and in 2009 was at an all-time high in that age group for the second straight year reaching 24.1 per 100,000 people. The NPA likewise reported a record for the third consecutive year among those in their 30s.[6] The rate among the over-60 population is also high, although people in their 30s are still more likely to commit suicide Almost Ninety people die as a result of suicide every day in Japan equating to nearly 26 suicides per 100,000 people and significantly higher than for any other developed country (9 in UK & 11 in US). In Japan, suicide comes in the leading cause of death among men aged 20-44 and women aged 15-34. Suicide was the sixth leading cause of death overall in Japan, showing the sixth most common cause for men and the eighth most common cause for women to the demographic statistics published by the Ministry of Welfare and Labour (1997-2005). Due to this aging affect is also increasing in Japan. 2.1 Affecting Factors 2.1.1 Economic Issues One of the major factors of Suicide in Japan is economical matters. Tokyo comes in the worlds expensive city, so its difficult for peoples to survive without money. Mostly when the peoples lost their Job then they try for this attempt. Following graph shows (Little bit old) that almost half of the suicide persons are un-employed peoples.

Department of Civil Engineering

Email: umar@ken-mgt.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Lecturer Name: PARK Naesun

Muhammad Umar Farooq

Registration No. 37-116214

2.1.2 Social & Cultural Matters Social matters are also one of the major cause in Japan for having this attempt. Japanese peoples are very quiet and peaceful because of that they are reluctant to share their feelings, problems. They keep their feelings and try to hide their emotions and very few peoples who share their feelings. It is like some sort of culture of Japan. They are more devoted and hardworking nation and want more and more success and do not want to lose anything. If they did not get some special thing then sometimes it is difficult for them to face others. 2.1.3 Mental Health Issues When people experience stress or psychological crisis in western societies, they tend to seek the help of counselors or mental health professionals. Since in Japan, however, there are relatively few qualified specialists and it is not much successful as compared to other developed country. 3.1 Toughness for the Vulnerability 3.1.2 Economic Matters One of the reason as mentioned earlier is economic. In Japan, there is closed system of employment. In this system peoples do not prefer to change their company because they do not have much benefit in other company. If someone loose their job for any reason then its difficult for him to get job in other company with the same scale and facilities. This may be the fault of the employment system as well. So the government should also think what are the other matters except economic matters that why unemployed peoples suicide ratio is more. Other thing is that after unemployment, suicide is the only solution. There may be other ways to decrease the standards of livings as well. 3.1.3 Social & Cultural Matters i) In Japan, there is a good family system as compared to other developed countries but still it is not too much strong to live together, to share their feelings. Even if someone is facing economic issues then his family member can support and he can take his help rather than to suicide. ii) One thing is that, machines can never be the alternative of living human being. In this age where new technologies are becoming more famous and a personal interaction are decreasing. We should keep balance of both the things. New technology is also our need in this world but also human interaction is also basic necessity of our life without any materialism. We start to have friendship with machines rather than human being but human being may be the best friend. Human being has emotions, encouragement and caring properties. We should be more social with the human beings and do not be hesitate to share our feelings. This thing may be lacking little bit in this nation. In Japan as compared to males, females are more social and try to have good relationship with other females. They are not much frustrated, so thats why their suicide attempt ratio is less than males also. iii) Peoples hesitate to share their feelings. They think the other person may think badly about them if he/she dislikes their feelings. So there is need of changing the attitude as well. By sharing your happiness, your pleasure becomes double and by sharing your sadness your sadness may reduce. So keeping in view these things, they must be more social to share their feelings rather to start living lonely and try to find the good and positive solution of their frustration. iv) If someone loose something or not good in some activity then we should take our loosing as a lesson and this thing motivate us to do better in future as well. If someone loose or not good in something then we should not start ignoring him, we should motivate him/her. There is need to change this attitude as well. Sometime Japanese company presidents often commit suicide when they fail in some business or management venture. The consideration of suicide by a top executive may not simply be the result of being tired and unable to endure the social Department of Civil Engineering Email: umar@ken-mgt.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Lecturer Name: PARK Naesun

Muhammad Umar Farooq

Registration No. 37-116214

pressure but also because he feels some sort of guilt for letting his employees and family down. v) Everywhere there are good and bad peoples because five fingers of our hand cannot be the same. But the person, we are thinking be nice or good for other and also behind every bad person/thing there is a good thing. If someone do bad thing then we should not start ignoring him, we should give him/her more chance to prove him/her better. May be after seeing our positive attitude the other person may change. For that, we should not expect too much from others. Otherwise we may adopt this attitude. So we should not be so sensitive in nature. This sensitiveness may lead to adopting bad deeds. The Japanese are also more sensitive in nature as well. vi) As we know, the other developed nations are more straight forward in nature. They can say everything and do not be hesitate. This thing may also not good some times. But the Japanese are not straight forward, it comes in their culture. They are so polite, they have their own polite forms of refusing anything and talking with each other. Its very good culture but sometime this thing is also not good. If you say everything to others and do not hide anything then after this you can feel better because you said everything and now your inner is clean and clear. Now when you meet again him/her your inner is clear and you are not hiding anything and you become closer to each other as well. Otherwise keeping bad things inside may leads towards wrong activities. 3.1.4 Mental Health Awareness The increase in mental health service provision, however, has not resulted in an increase in the use of such services. This may be due to the stigma attached to mental health services in Japan compared to western countries. This may be explained by a lack of mental health awareness and by Japanese culture in which it is less acceptable to disclose private concerns. When Japanese people experience distress they may be less disposed than other nationalities to seek professional help. The Japan Times reports how the country's largest suicide helpline, Inochi no Denwa struggles to attract enough funding to maintain a free phone number. With 300 volunteers it takes 27,000 calls a year. When this is compared with the 2.4m phone calls the Samaritans in the UK receive it is clear that it needs to become more culturally acceptable to ask for help. There are many websites available which guide that what is the easiest way to suicide. This sort of things motivates peoples for this attempt. In Japan, Suicide ratio in Tohoku Area is more as compared to Kanto area. And Kansai area Suicide ratio is less as compared to Kanto area. It is said that peoples of the Osaka are more social, talkative and confident as well. So its proved that not to be shy and being a social animal decreases the frustration. There is need to change the system as well and try to motivate them for counseling. Above mentioned reasons are also directly or indirectly causing aging affects in Japan also. There is need to increase the human brain counseling and also try to increase the social events as well. Japanese should also have combined events with foreigners to know each other culture as well and to increase the confidence level as well. Despite all the things Japan is the ideal place to live. Its very safe and peaceful country and peoples are very honest and very humble. References o Implications for Child and Adolescent Mental Health By AYUMI NAITO o Exploring Suicide in Japan: In the Light of Mental Illness and Socioeconomic Factors By Akira Nishiyama

Department of Civil Engineering

Email: umar@ken-mgt.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp