Monday, September 1, 2008

South Korea takes measures to tackle suicide "disgrace"

South Korea has been inflicted by one of the highest suicide rates in the world, a suicide rate that is even higher than in Japan.

The government has decided to activate measures in 10 different government departments to lower their suicide rate. The complete plan will be released next week.

Actions will include:
- building screen doors on platform stops at train stations.
- tighter regulations on the sale of pesticides and other poisons.
- welfare payments will be improved.
- internet sites that encourage suicide will be blocked.

There needs to be an international policy of blocking websites that promote suicide. Japan, Britain, Australia, South Korea, Germany and more are now recognizing that websites that promote and counsel suicide are encouraging people who are depressed or suicidal to go ahead and commit suicide.

The instructions on these websites are causing copy-cat acts of suicide as well as encouraging group suicide.

Dr. Philip Nitschke, Australia's Dr. Death, has operated a website that provides instructions and counsels suicide. He has even distributed short - how to - video's on U- Tube.

Society needs to recognize the importance of protecting vulnerable people.

Link to the articles:
http://www.abc.net.au:80/news/stories/2008/09/01/2352533.htm?section=world

http://afp.google.com:80/article/ALeqM5g_fznfPOpubTseliNtgNEvI4yjvA

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