CHANGING TRENDS Finland sheds off reputation as the world's suicide capital, while Japanese teens are getting depressed
HELSINKI Finland has finally shed a bleak record as one of the world's suicide capitals after the number of people taking their own lives in this Nordic state has dropped by 40 percent in the past 15 years. Nowadays around 18 out of 100,000 people commit suicide each year in Finland, about the same level as in France and Austria. In 1990, the number was 30 per 100,000. The decline is attributed largely to better treatment for depression, but even experts cannot really explain why the drop has been so dramatic, admits psychiatrist Jouko Loennqvist, head of the mental-health department of Finland's National Public Health Institute. "Depression is more often properly recognized, prevented, and treated. We have had special projects and campaigns about depression, which is now better recognized and treated. Psychological support and social support are nowadays in better condition," he said. Finland's dire reputation as a nation of suicides dates back to the period of economic and urban boom from 1965 to 1990 when the suicide rate tripled. By 1991, Finland was the world leader in teen suicides, and among the top three in overall suicides alongside New Zealand and Iceland. Faced with the grim figures, Finnish authorities dramatically increased funding to improve mental health and since 1991 the amount of available psychiatric help has doubled. Awareness campaigns in schools and among military conscripts also seem to have paid off, as the suicide rate among adolescents and young adults has dropped by 30 percent since 1991. But the suicide rate is still high among young men-it is the main cause of death among males 20 to 34. Among all ages and genders, the suicide rate is highest in isolated and economically disadvantaged regions in the east and north of the country. By contrast, it is lower in the Swedish-speaking regions on the west coast. The typical profile of a Finnish suicide victim is a man in his 40s, divorced and unemployed, alcoholic, and in poor health. In addition to traditional risk factors such as depression, alienation, personal problems and unemployment, alcoholism is singled out as the biggest single risk factor.
LONDON Britons are the world's biggest fans of fast food, just ahead of Americans, while famously gastronomic French are the least attracted by quick meals, according to a survey of 13 countries that confirmed growing concern over obesity worldwide, but noted different priorities and strategies for tackling it. "People are inherently contradictory and nowhere is it more obvious than on such a sensitive and important issue as their weight," said Steve Garton of polling body Synovate, who produced the survey jointly with the BBC. "The results show there's a world of people who cannot deny themselves that hamburger or extra piece of pizza, but probably make themselves feel better by washing it down with a diet cola." In terms of fast food, 45 percent of Britons agreed with the statement "I like the taste of fast food too much to give it up," ahead of 44 percent for Americans and 37 percent for Canadians. Among the French 81 percent rejected the statement, followed by 75 percent of Singaporeans and 73 percent of people from Hong Kong and Romania. Overall the obesity problem is fueling increasing concern worldwide-although some are more concerned than others. Fifteen percent of French people and 12 percent of Americans weigh themselves every single day, while at the other end of the spectrum only 15 percent of Hong Kongers get on the scales once or more every week. In terms of how to shed weight there are also different strategies. Globally most people say cutting food intake is the best answer, followed by 43 percent who do more exercise. But there are regional variations: 57 percent of Americans, 56 percent of French, and 54 percent of Britons cut down on food to shed pounds, while 14 percent of Malaysians opt for herbs and supplements to cut their weight.
TOKYO One in 10 Japanese in their early teens suffers depression, according to a survey conducted amid growing concerns about the recent spate of youth suicides. Some 10.7 percent of students in the first year of junior high school, when they are aged 12 or 13, have depression or manic depression, Kyodo News reported, citing a survey by researchers at Hokkaido University. "It is surprising that the prevalence rate is that high," said Prof. Kenzo Denda, who led the research team. "Cases of depression among children have been overlooked until now. But we should consider measures seriously in view of the fact that such depression has a causal relationship with suicides," he said. The survey gathered data on students' personal habits-including how much time they spend outdoors, whether they eat breakfast, and play video games-but found no link between lifestyle and mental illness. The survey was billed as the first of students in their early teens using face-to-face interviews rather than questionnaires. It found that 4.2 percent of children aged nine to 13 years old suffered depression, with the rate increasing as children got older.M |
