May 23, 2007
Suicide in South Korea and in the U.S.
A worker at Utopia Memorial House in Ansung last week walked by ashes of Jeong Da-bin, left, and Yuni, two entertainers who killed themselves. Photo from NYTimes
The NYTimes has a story about the rising rate of suicide in South Korea and the novel use of the internet to promote suicide pacts and other methods.
South Korea’s suicide rate stood at 18.7 per 100,000 people in 2002 — up from 10.2 in 1985. In 2002, Japan’s rate was the same as South Korea’s, but the rate in the United States was 10.2 per 100,000.
Apparently, young adults and teenagers are using the internet as a way to find others who also are thinking of committing suicide; some go on to form suicide pacts; others use the internet to learn more effective means to commit suicide.
I have known of this trend for some time, but I do follow these sorts of news items (as it is related to my line of work). However, I wonder if it is a news item now because of the Virginia Tech tragedy?
CNN recently reported on a supposed trend in the U.S. of suicide among Korean/Asian Americans (click here for story).
Asian-American women ages 15-24 have the highest suicide rate of women in any race or ethnic group in that age group. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for Asian-American women in that age range. (Department of Health and Human Services)
Something to ponder about...
Posted by richlee at May 23, 2007 04:47 PM