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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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 Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:06 pm Post subject: South Korea takes action against suicides. |
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7591959.stm
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By Steve Jackson
BBC News
South Korea is planning new measures to reduce the country's suicide rate - one of the highest in the developed world.
Government officials say they will improve welfare provision to tackle financial hardship.
They will also build more barriers on station platforms to stop people jumping under trains.
The suicide rate, higher even than in Japan, is seen by many South Koreans as a national disgrace and the government has been working on counter-measures.
The strategy it is developing involves 10 separate departments. Full details will be revealed next week.
Economic divisions
Officials from the health and welfare ministry, speaking anonymously, said there would be practical measures designed to prevent people from killing themselves as well as a deeper effort to tackle the causes of suicide.
The regulations controlling the sale of pesticides and other poisons will be tightened.
Internet sites that encourage suicide will be blocked and welfare support will be improved for people suffering severe financial difficulties.
The South Korean authorities say the high suicide rate is caused by rapid social change and growing economic divisions in the country.
They are particularly concerned about the increasing number of elderly people who are taking their own lives - in 2006 nearly three times the number a decade earlier.
They blame illness, poverty and a lack of preparation for old age in South Korean society. |
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newteacher
Joined: 31 May 2007
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| Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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| one of the highest in the developed world |
I thought it was the highest, not one of the highest. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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Suicide is a mental health issue and needs to be dealt with as such.
Perhaps an openness, public education and facilities for dealing with mental health issues might be a better start than control of pesticides and barricades on the subway platforms..
Then they can look at things like equalization payments to the poor, working poor and financially disadvantaged.
Seems to me that this is another knee jerk reaction to bad press rather than a realistic approach to dealing with an issue (kinda like the fallout from the CPN matter).
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flaptastic
Joined: 06 Jul 2008
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| Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Nice to hear some good news about suicide |
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Starla
Joined: 06 Jun 2008
Location: Seoul
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Tobias
Joined: 02 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:24 pm Post subject: Let 'em do it |
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If the elderly want to off themselves, we shouldn't stand in their way. They're old enough to know which actions are best to take in any situation.
If I were one of those old ladies who's scrunched over 90 degrees when she walks, I'd probably check out early, too.
Life is optional. The powers want people to believe it's sacred and it's a sin to kill one's self. If the minions didn't believe this, said minions may off themselves far too often and the applecart may be upset.
Know that I'm a strong believer in reincarnation. I was born at a certain time in history and that's it? Why? Why can't I be born in other times, too? I bet I can...and already have. |
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hugekebab
Joined: 05 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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| They'll be closing all the bridges next. |
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endo
Joined: 14 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul...my home
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| Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| Suicide is a mental health issue and needs to be dealt with as such. |
Is it a mental health issue or more so of an age and economic issue in Korea?
This is going to sound messed up; but offing yourself is one of the sadest, but also one of the bravest things a person can do.
I just wish if people really wanted to do it, they would do it in a less public manner as possible.
And are people who jump into an upcomming subway or train a real problem in this country? Has anyone here seen it?  |
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MissSeoul
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: Somewhere in America
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| Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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| endo wrote: |
And are people who jump into an upcomming subway or train a real problem in this country? Has anyone here seen it? |
That was one of well known method in Korea, these days young generation more often use jumping from high rise apartment building than jumping into upcomming train.
There is no easy way to go " Happy Mountain ". To me the best way to do is using gun, but in Korea guns are not allowed, Oh, well 
Last edited by MissSeoul on Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:30 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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PeteJB
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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| People ignore mental problems here, they don't open up or try to understand the concept of mental issues. I have first experience of seeing that. Makes me mad. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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| endo wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
| Suicide is a mental health issue and needs to be dealt with as such. |
Is it a mental health issue or more so of an age and economic issue in Korea? |
They may be significant contributing factors but really, suicide is a very permanent solution to what may well be only a temporary problem in most cases (loss of face, embarrassment, bankruptcy, as a few examples).
I think most cases are not matters of infirm or terminally ill patients seeking dignity in death but jumpers acting because of depression or desperation (both of which can be dealt with).
I feel strongly on this issue, particularly at this time, because we recently held a retirement dinner for our outgoing principal and from the tone of the event it was more like a funeral. When I inquired, they confirmed that it was a sad event because in their eyes his life is essentially over (at the ripe old age of 62) in spite of his good health and economic security.
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harryh
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: south of Seoul
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clyde
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Hungary was never in the Soviet Union, it was in the Eastern Bloc. Maybe they are suicidal because people like you keep calling them Russians. haha |
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daemyann
Joined: 09 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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| endo wrote: |
This is going to sound messed up; but offing yourself is one of the sadest, but also one of the bravest things a person can do.
I just wish if people really wanted to do it, they would do it in a less public manner as possible.
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You had to know that someone would pick on this, and here I am.
By your line of reasoning, being delusional is also "one of the bravest things" a person can do, or in this case, be. What could be more "brave" than essentially creating your own reality, regardless of evidence to the contrary. Of course, here most people would likely argue that experiencing paranoid delusions, for example, is far less voluntary, if voluntary at all, than committing suicide. Perhaps surprisingly, I would disagree.
I would argue that the warped rationalization of suicidal tendencies is just as involuntary as the warped rationalization of paranoid delusions.
Lastly, suicide is, at it's core, a supremely selfish act. This is often demonstrated in the manner by which it's commonly carried out. While selfish acts can also be brave ones, inasmuch as their not easy to carry out and elicit fear, are those really the most crucial elements? I feel like I could go on, arguing against bravery in situations where death is the goal, rather than a possible danger, but I have to work soon, and I think my point is strong enough without it.
In terms of avoidance, suicide is also supremely cowardly. |
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traxxe
Joined: 21 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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It is totally brave to make your parents go through hell. Or to make your family and friends suffer. It's brave to put them through the financial turmoil and misery when you kill yourself.
The high rate of suicide in this country is largely the fault of Koreans. They are the pettiest and most arrogantly rude people I have ever met. Could you imagine being fat and growing up in this country? Or being different? Talk about sad.
This country treats mental health like the plague. Then it has a culture that promotes unhealthy behavior like starvation and chronic alcohalism.
To deal with their high suicide rate Korea would need to become culturally sensitive, mentally aware, and a lot better place. I'm not going to hold my breath. |
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