Suicides in Japan top 30,000 for 11th year in row

The annual number of suicides in Japan has topped 30,000 for the 11th consecutive year.

A government white paper on suicide says 32,249 people killed themselves in 2008.

This translates to 23.7 suicides per a population of 100,000, making Japan's suicide rate the highest among the world's 7 major industrialized countries.

Of the roughly 23,000 suicides whose cause could be pinpointed, 65 percent were traced to health problems, 32 percent to economic woes, and 17 percent to troubles at home.

This year's white paper introduces tips on how to prevent people from taking their lives.

It also calls for increased scrutiny on how alcohol may be linked to suicide, noting that men in their prime tend to drink too much to ease their stress.