Momoko YOKOI

In Japan, suicide has long been an urgent social issue. The government has enacted the Basic Act on Suicide Prevention and initiated comprehensive efforts to implement it, and the local governments are undertaking a wide range of activities as part of the program, ranging from supporting community life to promoting awareness about suicide prevention. In this study, I examined the relationship between suicide prevention efforts and individual attitudes on suicide, using data from the “Takatsuki Citizen Mail Survey by Takatsuki City and Kansai University.” The results of multiple regression analysis suggest that having an attachment to the community and a desire to help in the community form the attitudes to reject suicide. Additionally, the concept of the “self-responsibility” theory has an influence on the acceptance or rejection of suicide, and individuals who perceive inequalities under the the principle of competition as “self-responsibility” are more inclined to attitude to accept suicide. Based on those results, it looks like it is important as a furue policy of suicide prevention to form community solidarity, and move away from the “self-responsibility” theory. In doing so, we will prevent suicide and build a society of mutual respect.