PSYCHO-SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE OF SUICIDE IN JAPAN AND ITS COMPARISON TO PAKISTAN
1.0 Introduction
Suicide is considered as one of the most tragic events of human life which cause serious psychological distress among the relatives, together with the economic burden to the entire society. Globally, about one million deaths from suicide are recorded yearly and the number of suicide attempts is estimated to be 10 to 15 million every year. Consequently, suicide is considered as a major cause of years of life lost, as a result, suicide prevention is receiving increasing attention ( 2005). According to statistics of WHO, one person commits suicide every 40 seconds. As a result, suicide rates have increased by 5 – 62% all over the world in the last two decades (2007).
2.0 Suicide Rates and Cases in Japan and Pakistan
Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the industrialized world (2008). A total of 32,249 people have committed suicide in Japan in 2007 or 23.7 suicides per 100,000 people in 2008. Annual suicide rates in Japan have exceeded 30,000 for the past decade. With 24,846 suicides reported in September, in 2008, nearing the 2003 record of 34,427 (2009). This figure shows that the suicide rate is still growing in spite of the efforts of the government to reduce the figure by 2016, and the fastest rise appears to be among the elderly Japanese and the population that is experiencing poverty. According to the UK’s Guardian newspaper, depression was considered as the main reason and followed by physical illness and financial problems (2008).
On the other hand, the said case is also observable in Pakistan. The country is experiencing a dramatic increase in suicide incidences in the last few years, neither collects national suicide statistics nor reports them to WHO – making the compilation of global suicide statistics difficult and the planning of prevention programs are almost impossible (2005). Suicide is understudied subjects in Pakistan (1998). There is no official data regarding suicide from Pakistan because of its conservative South Asian Islamic country and traditionally with low suicide rates. In addition suicide is considered as illegal act and condemned in social and religious manner. The study of (2006) showed that over 15 years (1985 - 1999), 2,568 suicides were reported (71% men, 39% women; ration 1.8). Poisoning by organophosphates was the most common method followed by hanging.
3.0 Objective of the Study
The study will address the three key objectives. They are the following:
· to determine the different factors that are related with the suicide cases in two countries;
· to discuss disciplines ranging from demography to psychodynamics to discuss the relationships of different social aspects with death and suicide in Japan and Pakistan; and
· to assess the different actions which the government can be done in order to reduce to prevent the increasing number of suicide.
4.0 Methodology
This study will adapt an interpretivist approach in research. Interpretivism is the necessary research philosophy for this study because it allows the search, of the ‘details of the situation, to understand the reality or perhaps a reality working behind them (Remenyi & Williams 1998). From the interpretivist perception, it is necessary to explore the subjective meanings motivating people’s actions in order to understand their actions. In other words, the aim of the interpretivist is to understand situations and give plausible and acceptable accounts of them ( 2002).
4.1 Data Collection
The survey method, also known as the questionnaire method, will be used in gathering the data for this study.
Surveys are the most common form of research method for collection of primary data (2000). One of its purpose is to describe, e.g., to count the frequency of some event or to assess the distribution of some variables such as proportion of the population of different age groups, sex, religion, castes and languages, knowledge, attitude and adaption of practices about particular issues, and other information of similar nature about the population (2000).
Sample Frame
The study will target a number of 500 citizens from different profession in Pakistan and Japan. The samples will be chosen through convenience sampling. Convenience sampling is picked over types of probability sampling because it will make the survey faster and easier. The total number of citizens of Japan and Pakistan is by million and the use of non-probability sampling such as convenience sampling may be advisable.
4.2 Data Analysis
The data results of the study will be analyzed by determining their corresponding frequency, percentage and weighted mean. The following statistical formulas will be used:
1. Percentage – to determine the magnitude of the responses to the questionnaire.
n
% = -------- x 100 ; n – number of responses
N N – total number of respondents
2. Weighted Mean
f1x1 + f2x2 + f3x3 + f4x4 + f5x5
x = --------------------------------------------- ;
xt
where: f – weight given to each response
x – number of responses
xt – total number of responses
4.3 Timetable
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
January
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Problem
Identification
Literature
Review
Research
Design
Choice of
Methodology
Data
Sources
Data
Collection
Data
Analysis
Writing up
Draft
Editing
Final
Document
Binding of
Document
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