Japanese suicides top 30,000 for 12th year

The number of suicides in Japan exceeded 30,000 last year for the 12th year in a row, with more people killing themselves because of the severe employment situation.

The National Police Agency says 32,845 people committed suicide in 2009.

People in their 50s accounted for the largest number at about 20 percent of the total. They were followed by those in their 60s and 40s.

Depression and other health problems were the leading cause of suicide for the 3rd straight year. These were followed by economic and job woes.

Among those taking their lives, 1,071 people killed themselves after losing their job, marking a surge of 65 percent.
Those who committed suicide due to economic hardship rose 34 percent to 1,731.

In response to the trend, the government in March launched an anti-suicide campaign for the unemployed at jobs centers nationwide