Recent trends in suicidal behavior in Japan.

This paper reviews the present situation of suicidal behavior in Japan. Although the suicide rate among the younger generation has been decreasing steadily, that among elderly Japanese has been high. In addition, it is expected that the elderly population in Japan will increase more rapidly than in other countries in the 21st century. This paper highlights the problems of suicidal elderly in Japan, by focusing on characteristics of their psychopathology, and it proposes an integrated model for suicide prevention. Accurate knowledge about suicide crisis in the elderly and appropriate countermeasures should be acquired by every individual in the community, and efficient social support networks should be established. The long-term objective should be to create an environment in which senior citizens can contribute to the community to the best of their ability, and every effort should be made to decrease the social stigma against old age and suicide.