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Saving 10,000 Project - 4 years of my life -

Saving 10,000 Project - 4 years of my life -. “ In a war on suicide, who is the enemy? ”. 2010 - Research. 2011 – Filming. 2012 - Editing. 2013 - Promotion. > Bigger Venues. > Foreign Media Interest. CNN Interview. > Japanese Media Interest. Yomiuri p2 . Asahi p2.

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Saving 10,000 Project - 4 years of my life -

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  1. Saving 10,000 Project- 4 years of my life - “In a war on suicide, who is the enemy?”

  2. 2010 - Research

  3. 2011 – Filming

  4. 2012 - Editing

  5. 2013 - Promotion

  6. > Bigger Venues

  7. > Foreign Media Interest

  8. CNN Interview

  9. > Japanese Media Interest

  10. Yomiuri p2.Asahi p2 20 Million Readers in 1-week

  11. Government Suicide Prevention Unit- DVD Request -

  12. DVD Request - Minister

  13. NPO – Request for 100 DVDs

  14. Politicians - Attention

  15. Parliament Screening

  16. TV Interest

  17. Public – ONLINE Campaign

  18. Japan - 4th highest suicide rate in OECD OECD 2012 Statistics

  19. Change in suicide rates 1995-2009 OECD 2012 Statistics

  20. Goals of Saving 10,000 Project • Focus on Suicide Prevention NOT Suicide • Diagnose causes of suicide • Shine spotlight on Taboo topics • Show Heroes – Build momentum • Show suicide prevention is working in Japan (2012 - Suicide falls below 30,000 for first time in 15 years) • Encourage individual responsibility

  21. A Japanese fireman said that he has to deal a lot more with suicides than with fires. Extremely disturbing aspect of the job

  22. Suicide Lifeline Calls • Who do so many people call lifelines? 80% on medication, 70% diagnosed as depressed • Where are their friends and family? • Loneliness + regular callers (frequent flyers) • Can they connect them to “real” help? • Will the “real” help be effective?

  23. Chapter One The Suicide Virus

  24. Japan Cabinet Office Survey“Are you thinking of killing yourself?” • Survey 2012: 25% had suicidal thoughts in past year In the 20’s age group, figure rises to 36% • How did you overcome these thoughts? 38% talked to family/friends – RESILIENCE concept 38% diverted attention to work/hobbies 18% took time off work • Why do so many want to die in Japan? • What are the specific triggers for this?

  25. My nightmare lecture on Suicide Prevention in 2010 Audience Q&A views • Killing yourself is an individual right • It is part of our Japanese culture • The economy is to blame • The government is to blame • Society is coming apart • Reincarnation belief encourages suicide • Suicide takes great courage • Why care? “Leave them on the tracks” • Suicide = Weakness-Shame-Crazy

  26. Why is suicide high in Japan? Normalized? Rationalized? Incentivized? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Beauty of Suicide = Commercialization Group culture = Weakness to imitation Result = Suicide Virus

  27. J-Media - Suicide Sells “Suicide is not taboo in Japan, it is everywhere!” 1703, Chikamatsu Monzaemon – puppet play “Sonezaki Shinjuu” – Love suicides at Sonezaki High rate of J-novelist suicide – Novels and Suicide Hotspots ………………………………………. Suicide infested popular culture? Books, movies, TV dramas, news reports, websites, manga, Kabuki plays, ballets and live-stream suicides. ………………………………………. Is Art imitating life or Life imitating Art? Culture is not a substitute for proper explanations. Suicide statistics reported like baseball scores

  28. Japanese suicide manuals? • Why are they so popular? • Why are they allowed by society? • Clear evidence of direct influence • What to do about them? • Desensitised to suicide methods • Is the popularity of manuals a tacit societal approval of suicide?

  29. J-Culture of Suicide? Fantasy vs. Reality …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Honourablevs.Stigma Beautiful Deathvs.Horrific/Painful Sacrificevs. Selfish Rational Decision vs. Mental illness Tragedyvs.Entertainment ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Using “Culture” as an excuse or a whitewash over the real problems

  30. The “Culture” ExcuseTaboos hidden inside Suicide 1. Alcoholism2. Gambling 3. Sex industry4. Homosexuality 5. Loan sharking 6. Drug abuse 7. Hikikomori 8. Domestic Violence 9. Physically disabled 10. Sexual Abuse 11. Gaming/internet addictions 12. Divorce 13. Unwanted pregnancies 14. Poverty

  31. Why is suicide high in Japan? Specific Complex Pressures Financial or social pressure triggers Lack of social support Nobody to talk with Lack of Depression Awareness Little understanding of symptoms

  32. Why is suicide high in Japan? Mental health care system Behind global standards Public indifference “Nothing to do with me” Suicide Prevention Little public support - Little momentum

  33. Chapter Two The Economy

  34. Debt = Death • Predatory lending to weakest groups • Illegal money lending is tolerated. • Guarantor system - cruel pressure • Nozomi loans - Big success • Therapists say “We can give therapy but we cannot pay our patient’s debts”

  35. Life insurance policies 1 • Life Insurance NotDEATH Insurance • I am “worth more dead than alive” • 2006 US Society of Actuaries - “Suicide quadrupled after expiry of exemption period” • J-life insurance payouts up 50% from 1995 to 2005 • 10% of all death benefits are suicide related • Exemption periods (1~2 years 2000) (2~3 years 2005) • Supreme Court decision in 2004 - Must pay on suicide • Adverse selection + Moral Hazard + Perverse Incentive

  36. Life insurance policies 2 • Creates illusion of “heroic” suicides • Financially incentivized suicides - global • Death benefit is still NOT enough • Family devastation is guaranteed • Need to start an urgent public debate • No loss - Actuarial tables adjusted up • Company reputational risk - easier to pay

  37. J-Corporate Culture • Concept of Lifelong Bullying? • “Why don’t you kill yourself, you’re useless!” • “If you want to cry, please use the toilet” • Unofficial overtime - Peer pressure • Honne versus Tatemae policies • To fire often requires to break worker’s spirit • Ever increasing pressure - lack of sleep

  38. Job insecurity + non-regulars Source: Nikkei.net

  39. Japan’s Youth Unemployment Rate

  40. Chapter Three Demographics and Society

  41. Cause of death - age group

  42. Suicide by age group

  43. School Suicides 1 Bullying cases in FY2011 33,000 Elementary School - 4 suicides 30,000 Junior High - 39 suicides 6,000 High School - 157 suicides …………………………………………………… Which is the bigger killer - bullying or exam pressure? …………………………………………………… Under-education - Over-examination - Social stratification - Humans are more than labour inputs

  44. School Suicides 2 Exam Pressure • Under-education - Over-examination • Social stratification • One chance - high pressure events • Pressure from Parents - Huge investment • Pressure on Teachers • Necessity of Cram Schools

  45. Zero-Tolerance on Bullying • Make schools legally liable if they cannot provide a safe environment • Recognise - Refuse - Report • Witnesses must not turn a blind eye • “Cool Schools” - Higher Reporting rates • Report online bullying • Playground supervision - Training video • “If you bully - you bury”

  46. Social Withdrawal 700,000 Hikikomori - Full Syndrome 1,400,000 Hikikomori - Sub-syndrome Average age - over 30 years Average Period 9.6 years Longest 34 years ……………………………………………………..………. Gaming + Internet Addictions

  47. Homosexuality in Japan 15% history of attempted suicide 70% high levels of anxiety 13% clinical depression 83% experienced school bullying 60% harassed due to sexual orientation (Study by Hidaka and Operio 2006)

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