30

A couple of years ago, while I was working with the Koreans, I stumbled upon this link due to their high suicide rate. And recently while sorting through my old links, I noticed certain patterns.

That's why I was asking.

31

I've lived in Japan a couple of years and met quite a few Koreans there. If I were to make an educated guess at the main reason for their high suicide rate, I'd say it's social pressure - conforming to the group you belong to, even if that means repressing your own personality, closely following an endless set of unwritten social rules, not showing or discussing your feelings to other people and so on.

32

Don't know a huge number of Koreans...but in addition to what Aribo writes above,do they not have a 'tradition' of 'honourable' suicide...the same way that the Japanese do?

That is...without the religious influences in the west (and Islamic countries) which have always condemned suicide as morally repugnant.....

In Japan it has been seen (at least traditionally) more as self-sacrifice for the good of the family,the family 'name' or society as a whole.....

33

Yes, u're right.

Different cultures view suicide differently. In the case of Japanese and Koreans, it's one of the last resorts to save one's 'face'.

'Face' is more important than life, go figure ...

34

Male suicide rate is much higher than female because though they commit far, far less attempts, they chose for agressive and more effective methods (gun, jumping off building, hanging).

Women commit far more attempts, but are less successful (and probably intentionally so)

35

Agree, see post 17

36

But only one per customer.

37

As a Finn I'd like to say a few things. Firstly, the people don't make that much suicides during winter but the highest peak in statistics occurs in spring. This is because it's easier to be depressed during December, because at that time everybody else is depressed too. But during spring people end up to commit suicides because they can't stand the situation where everybody else is beginning to enjoy the life again and they stay depressed.

Personally I think that the reasons for depression here are the same than in everywhere else in the (western) world. The problem is, that Finns tend not to look for help whatever it's mental aid or requesting money from friends but try to handle the situation on their own. Also, because of Finnish characteristics (sisu, determination etc) Finns have "balls" to commit suicide. In addition there are lots of guns in Finland which makes it easy to kill yourself.

In a nutshell: I don't think that Finns are any more depressed than any other nation in the world. We are just more likely to commit a SUCCESFULL suicide attempt :)

38

But not as successful as the Lithuanians though...... ;)