About 60 percent of Taiwanese people have known someone who has committed suicide and 57 percent have considered suicide, a survey released yesterday found.
The survey, held by youth counseling network the Teacher Chang foundation, found that while 57.05 percent of the 2,735 people that answered its survey had considered suicide at some point, only 4.12 percent respondents said that they would consider talking to their parents about their feelings of depression.
Despite respondents' reluctance to talk to family about their suicidal tendencies, the survey also found that 54.19 percent would leave suicide notes to their mothers, and that 12.47 percent would leave one for their children.
"You can see from these results that people who want to commit suicide also want to reach out to their families, but feel that they can't," said Chang Te-tsung (
According to Department of Health figures, suicide is the ninth-highest cause of death in Taiwan, with over 3,000 people committing suicide last year.
When compared to World Health Organization (WHO) figures from 1999, Taiwan has a higher suicide rate than most Western countries -- with 11.6 suicides per 100,000 people. The US had 9.1 suicides per 100,000; England 6.3, per 100,000 and Germany 9.8 per 100,000.
Survey responses were collected through telephone and face-to-face interviews from Aug.5 to Aug. 12 this year.
At yesterday's press conference, foundation spokespeople talked about people they knew who committed suicide.
"My sister has tried to kill herself over 10 times now, through every method you can think of -- it's become a habit with her," entertainer Lee Ming-yi (
"It's really heartbreaking, because you don't know how you can help. You know she's in pain and it's painful for you to watch this. But most often, suicidal people aren't able to reach out to their families when they really need help," Lee added.
Fellow celebrity spokesperson Darcy Hu (
"When someone is thinking about committing suicide, it's not that the person does not want to live, but that living is too painful of an option," said Hu, who attempted suicide herself on multiple occasions. Lee and Hu urged the public donate NT$500 towards the foundation. Each donator will be given a stuffed animal. Funds will go toward the expansion of the foundation's services.
To learn more about the foundation or donate money, call (02) 2502-5858, extension 463. To utilize its counseling services, call extension 1980 or see www.1980.org.tw.
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