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20% of Tokyo university students want to die, NPO survey suggests

28 Comments

About 20% of university students say they would like to die, according to a survey carried out in Tokyo this summer.

According to the NPO Lifelink which conducted the survey, 122 university students were asked to fill out a survey. TBS reported that of the group, 26 students, around 20% of the total, answered that they would genuinely like to die. The NPO says it believes the statistics are related to job-hunting failures and rejections.

Police statistics show that the total number of suicides in Japan last year dipped below 30,000 for the first time in 15 years. However, the number of suicides among people in their 20s increased and 149 people are believed to have committed suicide due to problems finding employment.

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28 Comments
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Too small a sample to be conclusive, but still worrying.

Instead of structurally addressing the rigid labor market - the LDP wants to double the maximum contract worker hire term from the current five years.

More graduates will find themselves doing the same work for half the package and zero the security of those colleagues who won the recruitment lottery.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

There is a suicide problem in Universities and colleges in North America too... not just Japan.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

So, instead of getting their self-pity finger out of their bums and actually doing something to help themselves they would prefer to die. Doesn't say much for the future of Japan, does it? Weak! Just weak!!!

2 ( +5 / -3 )

@Disillusioned: agreed and that seems the tendency of Japanese people (not restricted to university students) that is the reason suicide remains so high and country is not coming out from recession for last two decades.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Actually if you read it carefully it was a survey of students in Tokyo, not Todai students. I think they have more to live for regarding employment offers

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Those students need professional help. School and University must offer professional counseling to those depressed students. I'm a bit worrying of mentality of students and future of Japan. Japanese Government must take action on mantel illness.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

We come to this world with nothing and we leave with nothing and all of us are in line. Some in the front and others in the back. Thus all human beings know they must die. However some people do not want to know the simple naked whole truth about the themes of eternity. So what is the object of coming into existence then dying and falling away to be here no more. Therefore it is important that we understand all the reasons, causes of hardships, and adversities of life and of death. Hence it is reasonable to suppose that God or a Supreme Being would reveal something in reference to this matter. It's a subject that we ought to study more than any other for the world is ignorant in reference to their true condition and relation. If we have any claim on our God or Supreme Being for anything, it is for knowledge on this important subject.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Then again, if I had to live in Tokyo for four years with little chance of a job to get me out in the end, I'd probably feel pretty suicidal.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

MCO Lifelink was an Insurance company in Illinois, USA but was axquored b y Ebix.

Ebix, Inc. is an international supplier of software and e-commerce solutions to the insurance industry. Ebix provides a series of application software products for the insurance industry ranging from carrier systems, agency systems and exchanges to custom software development.

Figure why it has this kin d of survey in Japan.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

very shocking, I think the students needs an opportunity to see the real life while studying and the institutions should teach them how the real life is out of classroom, Africa and all the poor countries are good examples, how the people maintain their lives over there. unfortunately, the Japanese establishment never allowed other communities/cultures/foreigners in japan to groom or harmonize with the Japanese society, otherwise the Japanese youngsters can learn a lot from these communities, most of them passing through hard times but still they are working hard and want to achieve more in life. similar example can be taken from the Japanese community itself.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

No, 149 of the suicides by people in their 20's was for that reason. Not overall.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

If TU undergrads are like this

NeoJamal,

One might assume not so many Tokyo University students are suicidal.

Though not quite writing their own paychecks, Todai graduates aren't usually left on the shelf.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is just indicative of the effect that institutionalized programming has on the psyche. From an early age, most are programmed that they must somehow join the corporate workforce rather than being encouraged to become entrepreneurs and independently successful.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

We all die ....in the end....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Funny survey. They ask 126 students, do you want to die?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The sample is too small. But some of the comments are smaller minded. Japan's current social problems were created from its success in the past over several, perhaps many generations. The mind set and the infrastructure doesn't allow many alternatives to the individual in tbis collective system. Other nations drug abuse that kills is called overdose, reckless behavior on roads, extreme sports is called accidental death and so on. These risky alternatives offer an escape that dose not seem to be available as far as I can see. Boredom drove me from my home, i have been lucky so far avoiding the black dog but as I get older and less able challenges are less, it may just catch up in 10 or 15 years, thankfully I can move out/on any time I like. .

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is sad . "country ( Japan ) is not coming out of recession for last two decades"

That is the fault of gaikoku, especially Lehman Brothers.

You do know that Lehman brothers happened in 2008, right? And the Japanese economic bubble burst around 1990? But dont worry about that little detail - just keep blaming "gaikoku" for all Japans woes if it makes you feel better. Never let Japan take a look at itself for its own problems, and you will still find yourself 20 years from now posting on here about Japan not coming out of recession for 4 decades...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

They have given up all hope that Japan will be able to survive Shinzo Abe. More will see this reality as time goes on.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They have given up all hope that Japan will be able to survive Shinzo Abe. More will see this reality as time goes on.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

That is not surprising at all since they have given up all hope of Japan surviving under Shinzo Abe. More will follow suit.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

When this kind of survey are done, they don;t answer honestly. Students do not answer like they do on sub questions that affect their grade scores. Scheme to earn money by the organization. They minimize their cost by using small sample. maybe students must be laughing these test now?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What a waste of young lives!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If TU undergrads are like this, I guess those brats over in Mita must be humble pie right now.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

total number of suicides in Japan last year dipped below 30,000 for the first time in 15 years. However, the number of suicides among people in their 20s increased and 149 people are believed to have committed suicide due to problems finding employment.

Is that accurate? Out of 30000 suicides only 149 people took their life do to finding employment problems?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Though not quite writing their own paychecks, Todai graduates aren't usually left on the shelf.

Employer: "He was able to memorize all Chinese emperor names for the entrance exam, he must be top employee material"

yeah and we're stuck in this 20 year recession because this is really how they think.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

NPO LifeLine is looking for suckers in USA because it is not successful in selling their insurance and insurance software in USA. Tokyo U students do not need to learn anything from Africa. Real life in industrially advanced Japan and African poor countries differ. Japan do not need to become a poor country.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

If they want to die, they are on Earth prison, the perfect place for their wish will be granted.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This is sad.

"country ( Japan ) is not coming out of recession for last two decades"

That is the fault of gaikoku, especially Lehman Brothers.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

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