Government to tackle problem of rising suicide rate

Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) said yesterday that the Cabinet will set up a special task force to prevent the possible rise of a "suicide fad" in Taiwan amid mounting unemployment.

Chang said Taiwan's unemployment rate is steadily rising. In anticipation of a further increase following Taiwan's entry into the WTO, he said the Cabinet has already formed an inter-ministerial task force to draft measures for creating more job openings and helping the unemployed.

According to government statistics, Taiwan's jobless rate rose to 3.35 percent in January, the highest level in more than 15 years and up from December's rate of 3.27 percent. The rising jobless rate was due to the economic slowdown in Taiwan and overseas, as well as industry restructuring, said the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (主計處).

Chang also said the rise in the number of unemployment-related suicides was a worrying trend. He said that government agencies have already targeted more than 2,000 people considered to be at high risk of suicide, including alcoholics, drug addicts and manic depressives, for special counseling services.

A survey conducted by a non-profit organization suggested that around 38 percent of Taiwan people have contemplated suicide, mainly because of problems related to relationships or extramarital affairs. However, the rate of people considering suicide more than doubled last year due to rising unemployment, the survey said.