Comments on: Suicide in Japan http://www.herroflomjapan.com/2008/06/20/suicide-in-japan/ Podcasts & Videocasts from an American salaryman. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:00:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rich Pav http://www.herroflomjapan.com/2008/06/20/suicide-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-20273 Rich Pav Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:33:23 +0000 http://www.herroflomjapan.com/?p=569#comment-20273 Jason, I know nothing about personal bankruptcy protection laws in Japan, but I think it's safe to say they probably don't offer as much protection as those in the US. The only thing I do know is that a number of years ago a law was passed that made company executives personally liable to stockholders for the failure of a company, meaning stockholders could go after the personal finances of executives. In the US there's protection against that. On the mental health side of things, I've been doing a little reading of the infamous suicide message boards in Japanese and it sounds like there's a long waiting line for people who want to go into therapy. Jason, I know nothing about personal bankruptcy protection laws in Japan, but I think it's safe to say they probably don't offer as much protection as those in the US. The only thing I do know is that a number of years ago a law was passed that made company executives personally liable to stockholders for the failure of a company, meaning stockholders could go after the personal finances of executives. In the US there's protection against that.

On the mental health side of things, I've been doing a little reading of the infamous suicide message boards in Japanese and it sounds like there's a long waiting line for people who want to go into therapy.

]]> By: Jason http://www.herroflomjapan.com/2008/06/20/suicide-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-20271 Jason Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:25:29 +0000 http://www.herroflomjapan.com/?p=569#comment-20271 Hi, I'm new here, but I thought I'd contribute despite my relative ignorance regarding Japanese culture and govt. policies: Is the government doing something to somehow *encourage* suicide? If not, I believe it's correct for the government to not attempt to resolve a problem like this. Sure, they could make some token effort, but a problem like this requires direct contact rather than the aloof attempts from the local government. The article states that depression and debt rank high as the rationale among those who kill (or seek to kill) themselves. Thankfully, clinical depression has been recognized as a widespread problem and good research has been (and continues to be) done toward resolving it. Recent research suggests that regular exercise works as well or better than medication for alleviating the symptoms of clinical depression. Link: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression-and-exercise/MH00043 Now, the article didn't make clear if the matter of "debt" was "depression as a result of being in debt" or just "being in debt"; is this a manifestation of "death before dishonor"? Again, I'm fairly ignorant of Japanese culture, but I am curious to learn if this is the case. Here in the U.S., having a good name is important and there are benefits, but, even if your name becomes mud for some reason, people remain willing to accept you if you clean-up and get back on track. Is this not the case in Japan? Hi, I'm new here, but I thought I'd contribute despite my relative ignorance regarding Japanese culture and govt. policies:

Is the government doing something to somehow *encourage* suicide? If not, I believe it's correct for the government to not attempt to resolve a problem like this. Sure, they could make some token effort, but a problem like this requires direct contact rather than the aloof attempts from the local government.

The article states that depression and debt rank high as the rationale among those who kill (or seek to kill) themselves. Thankfully, clinical depression has been recognized as a widespread problem and good research has been (and continues to be) done toward resolving it. Recent research suggests that regular exercise works as well or better than medication for alleviating the symptoms of clinical depression.

Link: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression-and-exercise/MH00043

Now, the article didn't make clear if the matter of "debt" was "depression as a result of being in debt" or just "being in debt"; is this a manifestation of "death before dishonor"? Again, I'm fairly ignorant of Japanese culture, but I am curious to learn if this is the case. Here in the U.S., having a good name is important and there are benefits, but, even if your name becomes mud for some reason, people remain willing to accept you if you clean-up and get back on track. Is this not the case in Japan?

]]> By: Rich Pav http://www.herroflomjapan.com/2008/06/20/suicide-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-20266 Rich Pav Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:26:10 +0000 http://www.herroflomjapan.com/?p=569#comment-20266 <blockquote>But Rich, you're not listening to your average Tokyo therapist. Depression is selfish. People need to gaman, suck it up, and stop being selfish by burdening others with their complaints.</blockquote> That's what depressed people tell themselves. I'm sure therapy is better than that.

But Rich, you're not listening to your average Tokyo therapist. Depression is selfish. People need to gaman, suck it up, and stop being selfish by burdening others with their complaints.

That's what depressed people tell themselves. I'm sure therapy is better than that.

]]> By: Garrett http://www.herroflomjapan.com/2008/06/20/suicide-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-20264 Garrett Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:19:36 +0000 http://www.herroflomjapan.com/?p=569#comment-20264 But Rich, you're not listening to your average Tokyo therapist. Depression is selfish. People need to <em>gaman</em>, suck it up, and stop being selfish by burdening others with their complaints. Doesn't help that medication seems to lean towards sedatives, either. If 6,060 died of papercuts, the gov't would require paper to be regulated, ask for ID at P.O.P., and keep a close eye on Chinese paper merchants. There's nothing to ban or regulate in depression. Dealing with it is <em>mendokusai</em>. Garretts last blog post: <a href="http://www.transpacificradio.com/2008/06/18/child-cannibal-tsutomu-hanged-hatoyama-executes-three-inmates/" rel="nofollow">Child Cannibal “Tsutomu” Hanged; Hatoyama Executes Three Inmates</a> @ http://www.transpacificradio.com But Rich, you're not listening to your average Tokyo therapist. Depression is selfish. People need to gaman, suck it up, and stop being selfish by burdening others with their complaints.

Doesn't help that medication seems to lean towards sedatives, either.

If 6,060 died of papercuts, the gov't would require paper to be regulated, ask for ID at P.O.P., and keep a close eye on Chinese paper merchants. There's nothing to ban or regulate in depression. Dealing with it is mendokusai.

Garretts last blog post: Child Cannibal “Tsutomu” Hanged; Hatoyama Executes Three Inmates @ http://www.transpacificradio.com

]]> By: Japan » Today in Japan... http://www.herroflomjapan.com/2008/06/20/suicide-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-20262 Japan » Today in Japan... Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:50:38 +0000 http://www.herroflomjapan.com/?p=569#comment-20262 [...] Suicide in JapanA few months ago when I was posting random tidbits of stuff from the Japanese news media to this blog, I came across an article about a group suicide that happened in a hotel less than an hour from where I live. Three people–two men and … [...] [...] Suicide in JapanA few months ago when I was posting random tidbits of stuff from the Japanese news media to this blog, I came across an article about a group suicide that happened in a hotel less than an hour from where I live. Three people–two men and … [...]

]]> By: Lon http://www.herroflomjapan.com/2008/06/20/suicide-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-20261 Lon Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:36:45 +0000 http://www.herroflomjapan.com/?p=569#comment-20261 What is wrong with sounding "scholarly?" It may have been thinking like that, that bought us the last eight years of <i>anti-intellectual thinking</i> (now there is an oxymoron!) in U.S. politics. ;) What is wrong with sounding "scholarly?" It may have been thinking like that, that bought us the last eight years of anti-intellectual thinking (now there is an oxymoron!) in U.S. politics. ;)

]]> By: Rich Pav http://www.herroflomjapan.com/2008/06/20/suicide-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-20260 Rich Pav Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:24:54 +0000 http://www.herroflomjapan.com/?p=569#comment-20260 I originally wrote cognitive therapy but thought it sounded too scholarly. I originally wrote cognitive therapy but thought it sounded too scholarly.

]]> By: Lon http://www.herroflomjapan.com/2008/06/20/suicide-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-20259 Lon Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:26:30 +0000 http://www.herroflomjapan.com/?p=569#comment-20259 I would caution against using a loaded term like "psychotherapy" as it tends to be viewed by most as Freudian. Cognitive-behavioral therapy in conjunction with medication is generally more effective. I also agree with akira, that the society at large needs to change its view of depression so that education and appropriate resources are seen as not only effective, but desirable. I would caution against using a loaded term like "psychotherapy" as it tends to be viewed by most as Freudian. Cognitive-behavioral therapy in conjunction with medication is generally more effective. I also agree with akira, that the society at large needs to change its view of depression so that education and appropriate resources are seen as not only effective, but desirable.

]]> By: akira117 http://www.herroflomjapan.com/2008/06/20/suicide-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-20258 akira117 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:43:38 +0000 http://www.herroflomjapan.com/?p=569#comment-20258 Making help more widely available and changing people's view on it as a "noble" act would be a good plan for the future. Making help more widely available and changing people's view on it as a "noble" act would be a good plan for the future.

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