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Report says more than six people per day kill themselves

The nation's suicide rate continued to rise last year, with 2,360 people taking their own lives for a daily average of 6.5 suicides, according to a preliminary report published yesterday.

However, a Department of Health official said the figure could be higher because the tabulation of last year's suicides will not be completed until the end of March.

"Some people do not immediately report deaths of family members, so we stop compiling the figures at the end of March. The final report will be made public in May," the official said.

The health department report, published in all major newspapers, said Taiwan's suicide rate hit a nine-year high last year, with 2,360 people taking their lives.

The suicide rate was 10.64 suicides per every 100,000 people. The suicide rate of 1999 was 10.36 per every 100,000 people.

"Unemployment was one of the factors in last year's suicides. Some 58 percent of the men who committed suicide were out of work," the report said.

It noted a high suicide rate among survivors of the 921 earthquake in central Taiwan that killed roughly 2,400 people, injured 10,000 and left tens of thousands homeless.

"In 1999, 14 earthquake survivors committed suicide. In 2000, 67 committed suicide," it said.

Another cause of concern is the increased suicide rate among senior citizens, which rose 12 percent from last year.

Compared with 1999, 90 more people over the age of 60 killed themselves last year. Of that number, 39 were more than 80 years of age.

Suicide moved up into the ranks of the 10 top causes of death in Taiwan in 1997. Sociologists blame the high suicide rate on job pressure, recession and lack of support systems.
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