臨床心理士 国家資格
30年前にこの世界（医療及び教育）に足を踏み入れて以来、願ってきた「心理士の国家資格化」が、いよいよ本格化してきたと聞き、久々にwebを覗いてキーワード検索してみたら、沢山の皆さんが丁寧に状況をご紹介下さり、色々なコメントを発表されているのを読ませていただいて、老境に入りつつある一カウンセラーとして、一言感想を書いてみたくなりました。
私が長年「心理士の国家資格化」を願ってきたのは、この国に暮らす誰もが必要な時に楽にカウンセリングが受けられるシステムを導入出来たらとの想いからです。楽にと云うのは、どんな小さな町でも村でも、すぐにアクセス出来、経済的にも、保険等が使えて、大きな負担にならずに受けられると云う事で、本当にシンプルな願いからです。
その意味で、もし「国家資格化」されたら、私の勝手な想像で、保健所や学校、或は医療機関でもどこにでも心理職のスタッフが配備されていて、いつでも繋がれるようになれたら、どんなに素晴らしいかと…。
叉「 国家資格化」される事で、未だに根強くある社会の中のメンタル問題に対する偏見も幾分かでも払拭されるかとの期待もあっての事です。
その結果、ここ数年の不名誉な自殺率の増加を多少なりとも食い止める事にもなる可能性も高くなりますし…長年不安定な経済状況の中で頑張って来ている臨床現場の心理士にとっても、何らかの安定性が確保されるとしたら、こんな嬉しい事はありません。その意味では、一日も早く実施される事が臨まれる次第です。
叉、心理士の質の高さについてご心配されている皆さんが多いようですが、これは、この「 国家資格化」を機に、それこそ更新性を取り入れる等、関連諸学会の今迄の諸経験を煮詰め、改めて検討して行くチャンスでもあり、何より社会からの目も厳しくもなる訳で、正しく一人一人の責任が問われて行く事になるのかと、思います。
ただ実際、正直なところ、日々の業務をこなしながらここで又何らかの“試験”を受けると云うのは、かなりのプレッシャーである事は確かでもあり、何らかの国家試験の施行まで考えると、某大先生の言葉にすがりたくもなる心境でもあります。
だからと云って、勿論誰でもそのままパスと云う訳にはいかないのでしょうが、自分が老年に入りつつある立場だからと云う事もありますが、ヨーロッパ諸国である、「グランドペアレンティング（Grandparenting）制（何らかの国家資格が誕生する際に、既にその仕事に長年従事して来ている人達への救済措置で、それまでの学歴や実務経験等の書類審査で検討するシステム。）」なんて云うのも取り入れていただけたら、有り難いなぁと思ったりもしています。
ちょっとながくなりましたが、皆さんのコメントに触発されて思い付くまま、書いてみました。
keywords: 臨床心理士 国家資格 日本心理臨床会 日本臨床心理士会 心理士 グランドペアレンティン Grandparenting
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2009年12月27日日曜日
自殺率
自殺者：３万人超す 前年上回る恐れも １～１１月
2009年12月25日 19時58分 更新：12月25日 22時37分
警察庁は２５日、１１月の自殺者数が２４９４人だったと公表し、１～１１月の累計は３万１８１人（昨年同期比４４５人増）となり１２年連続で３万人を超えた。１２月もこのペースで推移すれば、統計の残る７８年以降で最多だった０３年の３万４４２７人よりは少ないものの、０８年の３万２２４９人を上回る見通し。金融危機が深刻化した昨年１０月以降長引く不況で、経済的要因による自殺が増えているとみられる。
警察庁によると、今年の自殺者は▽１月２６６１人▽２月２４８３人▽３月３０８９人▽４月３０５３人▽５月２９９３人▽６月２８４０人▽７月２７６５人▽８月２５１２人▽９月２５１０人▽１０月２７８１人▽１１月２４９４人。月別の自殺者数を初めて公表した昨年と比べて１～８月は連続で上回ったが、９～１１月は下回った。
男性は２万１５６６人、女性は８６１５人で、男性が約７１％。１１月末までの月平均の自殺者数は約２７４４人で、０８年の月平均を約５７人上回っている。
遺体が発見された都道府県別（１～１１月）では、東京が２７６０人で最多。以下、大阪１８５５人、神奈川１６８９人。最少は鳥取の１５１人。増加の割合が目立ったのは沖縄で、昨年同期比７２人増の３８４人となった。
内閣府参与として「自殺対策緊急戦略チーム」メンバーに加わっているＮＰＯ法人「自殺対策支援センターライフリンク」の清水康之代表は「また超えてしまったか、というのが率直な感想。地域別や時期別、職業別などに自殺の実態分析を進めており、ターゲットを絞った形での対策を来年３月に打ち出したい」と話している。【千代崎聖史】
◇自治体が中高年対策
自殺者がまた３万人を超え、対策に携わる関係者らにため息が広がる中、一部自治体は自殺者の５割以上を占める中高年向けに対策をとり始めている。
内閣府が１１月にまとめた「自殺対策１００日プラン」の一つで、中高年向けの対策として月別の自殺者が最多の３月に実施する「お父さん、眠れてる？キャンペーン」（仮称）は、静岡県精神保健福祉センターが同県富士市で取り組んでいる啓発活動がモデルだ。
同センターは、自殺の前兆とされるうつ病の人たちのほとんどが不眠であることに着目し、中高年の労働者が多い富士市を舞台に、０６年から不眠防止の啓発活動を続けている。
「パパ、ちゃんと寝てる？」
ポスターの中でささやいているのはセーラー服姿の女子高生。不眠が２週間以上続く場合は受診を呼びかける内容で、県は毎年約５０００枚を作成。お父さんが立ち寄りそうなパチンコ店や酒販店などに掲示した。
同センターは「中高年のお父さんは、娘に弱い。それでキャッチフレーズにたどりついた」と話す。駅で配布される時刻表に印刷、県内民放テレビのＣＭでも集中して流した。０５年まで増加傾向だった富士市の自殺者は０６、０７年と連続して減少したという。
あるＮＰＯ関係者は「中高年は弱音をはきづらい世代。自殺対策の入り口としては効果的だ」と評価する。
一方、宮城県栗原市は、市内の自殺者の遺書を分析したところ生活苦や多重債務が多かったとして、多重債務者救済に取り組んでいる。０７年には５人の担当者を配置して多重債務専用の相談電話を開設。０８年度の相談件数は３２３件、今年度も１０月末までで約１９０件に上る。
０８年には市が１億円を出資し、市中の金融機関より安い利率による多重債務者向け貸付制度「栗原市のぞみローン」を創設、１２件の利用があった。市健康推進課の担当者は「今年１０月からは無料法律相談と健康相談を組み合わせるワンストップサービスを始めた。今後はハローワークとの連携も深めたい」と話している。【佐藤浩、千代崎聖史】
毎日
http://mainichi.jp/select/today/archive/news/2009/12/25/20091226k0000m040059000c.html
2009年12月25日 19時58分 更新：12月25日 22時37分
警察庁は２５日、１１月の自殺者数が２４９４人だったと公表し、１～１１月の累計は３万１８１人（昨年同期比４４５人増）となり１２年連続で３万人を超えた。１２月もこのペースで推移すれば、統計の残る７８年以降で最多だった０３年の３万４４２７人よりは少ないものの、０８年の３万２２４９人を上回る見通し。金融危機が深刻化した昨年１０月以降長引く不況で、経済的要因による自殺が増えているとみられる。
警察庁によると、今年の自殺者は▽１月２６６１人▽２月２４８３人▽３月３０８９人▽４月３０５３人▽５月２９９３人▽６月２８４０人▽７月２７６５人▽８月２５１２人▽９月２５１０人▽１０月２７８１人▽１１月２４９４人。月別の自殺者数を初めて公表した昨年と比べて１～８月は連続で上回ったが、９～１１月は下回った。
男性は２万１５６６人、女性は８６１５人で、男性が約７１％。１１月末までの月平均の自殺者数は約２７４４人で、０８年の月平均を約５７人上回っている。
遺体が発見された都道府県別（１～１１月）では、東京が２７６０人で最多。以下、大阪１８５５人、神奈川１６８９人。最少は鳥取の１５１人。増加の割合が目立ったのは沖縄で、昨年同期比７２人増の３８４人となった。
内閣府参与として「自殺対策緊急戦略チーム」メンバーに加わっているＮＰＯ法人「自殺対策支援センターライフリンク」の清水康之代表は「また超えてしまったか、というのが率直な感想。地域別や時期別、職業別などに自殺の実態分析を進めており、ターゲットを絞った形での対策を来年３月に打ち出したい」と話している。【千代崎聖史】
◇自治体が中高年対策
自殺者がまた３万人を超え、対策に携わる関係者らにため息が広がる中、一部自治体は自殺者の５割以上を占める中高年向けに対策をとり始めている。
内閣府が１１月にまとめた「自殺対策１００日プラン」の一つで、中高年向けの対策として月別の自殺者が最多の３月に実施する「お父さん、眠れてる？キャンペーン」（仮称）は、静岡県精神保健福祉センターが同県富士市で取り組んでいる啓発活動がモデルだ。
同センターは、自殺の前兆とされるうつ病の人たちのほとんどが不眠であることに着目し、中高年の労働者が多い富士市を舞台に、０６年から不眠防止の啓発活動を続けている。
「パパ、ちゃんと寝てる？」
ポスターの中でささやいているのはセーラー服姿の女子高生。不眠が２週間以上続く場合は受診を呼びかける内容で、県は毎年約５０００枚を作成。お父さんが立ち寄りそうなパチンコ店や酒販店などに掲示した。
同センターは「中高年のお父さんは、娘に弱い。それでキャッチフレーズにたどりついた」と話す。駅で配布される時刻表に印刷、県内民放テレビのＣＭでも集中して流した。０５年まで増加傾向だった富士市の自殺者は０６、０７年と連続して減少したという。
あるＮＰＯ関係者は「中高年は弱音をはきづらい世代。自殺対策の入り口としては効果的だ」と評価する。
一方、宮城県栗原市は、市内の自殺者の遺書を分析したところ生活苦や多重債務が多かったとして、多重債務者救済に取り組んでいる。０７年には５人の担当者を配置して多重債務専用の相談電話を開設。０８年度の相談件数は３２３件、今年度も１０月末までで約１９０件に上る。
０８年には市が１億円を出資し、市中の金融機関より安い利率による多重債務者向け貸付制度「栗原市のぞみローン」を創設、１２件の利用があった。市健康推進課の担当者は「今年１０月からは無料法律相談と健康相談を組み合わせるワンストップサービスを始めた。今後はハローワークとの連携も深めたい」と話している。【佐藤浩、千代崎聖史】
毎日
http://mainichi.jp/select/today/archive/news/2009/12/25/20091226k0000m040059000c.html
2009年12月23日水曜日
Japanese Psychotherapy
Japanese Psychotherapy
The current of psychotherapy in Japan has long been naturally moving towards all current psychotherapies being used in a form of integrated psychotherapy. The teachings of all the most leading and influential teachers of the predominate schools of psychotherapy at least since the end of the war in the Pacific have favoured an acceptance and respect for all other major systems of psychotherapy. The answers and comments provided by all respondents surveyed as part of this research on the use of all of the major methods of psychotherapy currently utilized to nurture the well being of clients and patients of all kinds overwhelming show that they vary and tailor their approach for each and every one of them. So very few practicing psychotherapists here insist on just one approach. Therefore it is a very personal and consensually concordant current that has resulted in integrative psychotherapy becoming popular in Japan too.
The very nature of Japanese culture with its Buddhist roots still deeply influencing the ways that all people relate to one another here is integrative in nature and current modalities of Japanese psychotherapy too have been adopted, adapted and encouraged to grow and advance in a spirit of harmony and cooperation between professionals and clients and patients always with a respect of the intrinsic inter-relationship of human interaction being at the heart of things." © Andrew Grimes JSCCP, JCP, M.Sci. Pth.
The current of psychotherapy in Japan has long been naturally moving towards all current psychotherapies being used in a form of integrated psychotherapy. The teachings of all the most leading and influential teachers of the predominate schools of psychotherapy at least since the end of the war in the Pacific have favoured an acceptance and respect for all other major systems of psychotherapy. The answers and comments provided by all respondents surveyed as part of this research on the use of all of the major methods of psychotherapy currently utilized to nurture the well being of clients and patients of all kinds overwhelming show that they vary and tailor their approach for each and every one of them. So very few practicing psychotherapists here insist on just one approach. Therefore it is a very personal and consensually concordant current that has resulted in integrative psychotherapy becoming popular in Japan too.
The very nature of Japanese culture with its Buddhist roots still deeply influencing the ways that all people relate to one another here is integrative in nature and current modalities of Japanese psychotherapy too have been adopted, adapted and encouraged to grow and advance in a spirit of harmony and cooperation between professionals and clients and patients always with a respect of the intrinsic inter-relationship of human interaction being at the heart of things." © Andrew Grimes JSCCP, JCP, M.Sci. Pth.
2009年12月1日火曜日
Foods that Fight Depression
By Catherine Lewis, AHJ Editor -- Published: November 30, 2009
If you have battled depression, or are close to someone that has, you would love to know the key to curing it forever. Well, you may have one option when it comes to addressing this debilitating condition. New research is now being done that indicates that there are foods that can actually help fight depression. Which foods, you ask? Keep reading to find out.
What Foods Fight Depression?
Researchers at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, discovered several foods that appear to be beneficial for depression.
* Cold water fish – Salmon, sardines, and tuna are included in this list.
* Walnuts – Walnuts - like cold-water fish - contain omega-3 fatty acids.
* Sugar beets and molasses – Sugar beets and molasses contain a substance known as uridine. This substance also seems to have positive effects on depression.
This food list could explain why those in Scandinavian and Asian countries have lower instances of depression. People in these regions tend to have diets that are very high in fish. The researchers found that when omega-3 fatty acids were used in conjunction with uridine in low doses that it was effective against depression.
Japanese researchers have findings that also support these conclusions. While this team of researchers was in Finland they surveyed 1,767 residents. These survey results caused them to conclude that eating fish more than two times per week has a protective effect against both depression and suicide.
How Do These Foods Fight Depression?
Exactly how these foods fight depression is not known. Researchers suspect that they may change some fats in the brain membrane. They believe that this could make it easier for the brain chemicals to pass through. The researchers at McLean used lab rats but warn that human metabolism is significantly different from that of rats.
Kathleen Franco, MD is the professor of medicine and psychiatry at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine in Ohio. She believes that diet along with supplements, combined with medication and psychotherapy, have a role in depression treatment. Dr. Franco says, "It is recommended that individuals eat a healthy diet [including] fruits and vegetables with antioxidants; omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, tuna and some other fish; and vitamins that include all the B's."
Depression Foods: Other Possibilities
There are other types of foods and dietary supplements that may affect depression as well:
* B vitamins - Studies indicate low levels of the B vitamin folic acid along with high levels of homocysteine, a protein, make you more likely to be depressed. Folic acid, vitamin B2, B6, and B12 decrease levels of homocysteine. B vitamins can be obtained by eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and legumes.
* Amino acids – An important amino acid, Tryptophan, is needed to make the brain chemical serotonin. Low levels of serotonin are understood to be one cause of depression.
* Carbohydrates - Carbs are changed into sugar that your brain needs to function. Eating too much sugar often causes peaks and valleys in blood glucose levels that leads to or aggravate symptoms of depression. Stick to a diet low in refined carbs and sugar and high in fruits and vegetables.
* St. John’s Wort - There has been some evidence that St. John's Wort has been helpful in treating mild depression. However, two recent studies reported that it was no more effective than a placebo in cases of major depression.
More research is needed, but the outlook is quite hopeful.
By Catherine Lewis, AHJ Editor -- Published: November 30, 2009
If you have battled depression, or are close to someone that has, you would love to know the key to curing it forever. Well, you may have one option when it comes to addressing this debilitating condition. New research is now being done that indicates that there are foods that can actually help fight depression. Which foods, you ask? Keep reading to find out.
What Foods Fight Depression?
Researchers at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, discovered several foods that appear to be beneficial for depression.
* Cold water fish – Salmon, sardines, and tuna are included in this list.
* Walnuts – Walnuts - like cold-water fish - contain omega-3 fatty acids.
* Sugar beets and molasses – Sugar beets and molasses contain a substance known as uridine. This substance also seems to have positive effects on depression.
This food list could explain why those in Scandinavian and Asian countries have lower instances of depression. People in these regions tend to have diets that are very high in fish. The researchers found that when omega-3 fatty acids were used in conjunction with uridine in low doses that it was effective against depression.
Japanese researchers have findings that also support these conclusions. While this team of researchers was in Finland they surveyed 1,767 residents. These survey results caused them to conclude that eating fish more than two times per week has a protective effect against both depression and suicide.
How Do These Foods Fight Depression?
Exactly how these foods fight depression is not known. Researchers suspect that they may change some fats in the brain membrane. They believe that this could make it easier for the brain chemicals to pass through. The researchers at McLean used lab rats but warn that human metabolism is significantly different from that of rats.
Kathleen Franco, MD is the professor of medicine and psychiatry at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine in Ohio. She believes that diet along with supplements, combined with medication and psychotherapy, have a role in depression treatment. Dr. Franco says, "It is recommended that individuals eat a healthy diet [including] fruits and vegetables with antioxidants; omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, tuna and some other fish; and vitamins that include all the B's."
Depression Foods: Other Possibilities
There are other types of foods and dietary supplements that may affect depression as well:
* B vitamins - Studies indicate low levels of the B vitamin folic acid along with high levels of homocysteine, a protein, make you more likely to be depressed. Folic acid, vitamin B2, B6, and B12 decrease levels of homocysteine. B vitamins can be obtained by eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and legumes.
* Amino acids – An important amino acid, Tryptophan, is needed to make the brain chemical serotonin. Low levels of serotonin are understood to be one cause of depression.
* Carbohydrates - Carbs are changed into sugar that your brain needs to function. Eating too much sugar often causes peaks and valleys in blood glucose levels that leads to or aggravate symptoms of depression. Stick to a diet low in refined carbs and sugar and high in fruits and vegetables.
* St. John’s Wort - There has been some evidence that St. John's Wort has been helpful in treating mild depression. However, two recent studies reported that it was no more effective than a placebo in cases of major depression.
More research is needed, but the outlook is quite hopeful.
2009年10月29日木曜日
JAPAN: Death from Overwork
JAPAN: Death from Overwork Persists Amid Economic Crunch
This article states: that ‘karoshi’ has taken on a new face — suicide. "This is something new," he said. "About 20 years ago, heart attacks or strokes were a symbol of ‘karoshi’ in Japan. In 1994, for instance, Japan’s Economic Planning Agency estimated the number of ‘karoshi’ deaths at around 1,000, or 5 percent of all deaths from cardiovascular diseases, in the 25 to 59 age group.
Today, workers are committing suicide, and that is a major change, he said. Of the more than 30,000 suicides recorded last year, based on data from the national police agency, Kawahito said 10,000 were believed to be related to overwork.
I do not agree with some of this. It is not something new that today workers in Japan are committing suicide because of depression and the stress of overwork. Karaoshi is death through overwork resulting in the worker literally dying on the job. The suicide of thousands of workers every year due to depression and overworking are two aspects of a problem that have existed side by side in Japan for over a decade. There was a major change in the suicide rate in Japan, but it happened over ten years ago.I am a JSCCP clinical psychologist and JFP psychotherapist working in Japan for over 20 years. I would like to put forward a perspective on some of the main reasons behind the unacceptably high suicide numbers Japan and so will limit my comments to what I know about here in Japan.
Mental health professionals in Japan have long known that the reason for the unnecessarily high suicide rate in Japan is due to unemployment, bankruptcies, and the increasing levels of stress on businessmen and other salaried workers who have suffered enormous hardship in Japan since the bursting of the stock market bubble here that peaked around 1997. Until that year Japan had annual suicide of rate figures between 22,000 and 24,000 each year. Following the bursting of the stock market and the long term economic downturn that has followed here since the suicide rate in 1998 increased by around 35% and since 1998 the number of people killing themselves each year in Japan has consistently remained well over 30,000 each and every year to the present day.
The current worldwide recession is of course impacting Japan too, so unless the new administration initiates very proactive and well funded local and nationwide suicide prevention programs and other mental health care initiatives, including tackling the widespread problem of clinical depression suffered by so many of the general population, it is very difficult to foresee the previous government's stated target to reduce the suicide rate to around 23,000 by the year 2016 as being achievable. On the contrary the suicide rate could even get even worse is more is not done to prevent this terrible loss of life.Unless the new administration initiates very proactive and well-funded local and nationwide suicide prevention programs and other mental health care initiatives, including tackling the widespread problem of clinical depression suffered by so many of the general population, it is very difficult to foresee the previous government's stated goal of reducing the suicide rate to around 23,000 by 2016 as achievable.
The current numbers licensed psychiatrists (around 13,000), Japan Society of Certified Clinical Psychologists clinical psychologists (19,830 as of 2009), and Psychiatric Social Workers (39,108 as of 2009) must indeed be increased. In order for professional mental health counseling and psychotherapy services to be covered for depression and other mental illnesses by public health insurance it would seem advisable that positive action is taken to resume and complete the negotiations on how to achieve national licensing for clinical psychologists in Japan through the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and not just the Ministry of Education as is the current situation. These discussions were ongoing between all concerned mental health professional authorities that in the ongoing select committee and ministerial levels that were ongoing during the Koizumi administration. With the current economic recession adding even more hardship and stress in the lives its citizens, now would seem to be a prime opportunity for the responsible Japanese to take a pro-active approach to finally providing government approval for national licensing for clinical psychologists who provide mental health care counseling and psychotherapy services to the people of Japan.
During these last ten years of these relentlessly high annual suicide rate numbers the English media seems in the main to have done little more than have someone goes through the files and do a story on the so-called suicide forest or internet suicide clubs and copycat suicides (whether cheap heating fuel like charcoal briquettes or even cheaper household cleaning chemicals) and mirrors at stations, and now lights at stations,
Economic hardship, bankruptcies and unemployment have been the main cause of suicide in Japan over the last 10 years, as the well detailed reports behind the suicide rate numbers that have been issued every year until now by the National Police Agency in Japan show only to clearly if any journalist is prepared to learn Japanese or get a bilingual researcher to do the research to get to the real heart of the tragic story of the long term and unnecessarily high suicide rate problem in Japan.
I would also like to suggest that as many Japanese people have very high reading skills in English that any articles (or works of fiction which I appreciate this is) dealing with suicide in Japan could usefully provide contact details for hotlines and support services for people who are depressed and feeling suicidal.
Useful telephone numbers and links for Japanese residents of Japan who speak Japanese and are feeling depressed or suicidal:
Japan: 0120-738-556
Tokyo: 3264 4343
This article states: that ‘karoshi’ has taken on a new face — suicide. "This is something new," he said. "About 20 years ago, heart attacks or strokes were a symbol of ‘karoshi’ in Japan. In 1994, for instance, Japan’s Economic Planning Agency estimated the number of ‘karoshi’ deaths at around 1,000, or 5 percent of all deaths from cardiovascular diseases, in the 25 to 59 age group.
Today, workers are committing suicide, and that is a major change, he said. Of the more than 30,000 suicides recorded last year, based on data from the national police agency, Kawahito said 10,000 were believed to be related to overwork.
I do not agree with some of this. It is not something new that today workers in Japan are committing suicide because of depression and the stress of overwork. Karaoshi is death through overwork resulting in the worker literally dying on the job. The suicide of thousands of workers every year due to depression and overworking are two aspects of a problem that have existed side by side in Japan for over a decade. There was a major change in the suicide rate in Japan, but it happened over ten years ago.I am a JSCCP clinical psychologist and JFP psychotherapist working in Japan for over 20 years. I would like to put forward a perspective on some of the main reasons behind the unacceptably high suicide numbers Japan and so will limit my comments to what I know about here in Japan.
Mental health professionals in Japan have long known that the reason for the unnecessarily high suicide rate in Japan is due to unemployment, bankruptcies, and the increasing levels of stress on businessmen and other salaried workers who have suffered enormous hardship in Japan since the bursting of the stock market bubble here that peaked around 1997. Until that year Japan had annual suicide of rate figures between 22,000 and 24,000 each year. Following the bursting of the stock market and the long term economic downturn that has followed here since the suicide rate in 1998 increased by around 35% and since 1998 the number of people killing themselves each year in Japan has consistently remained well over 30,000 each and every year to the present day.
The current worldwide recession is of course impacting Japan too, so unless the new administration initiates very proactive and well funded local and nationwide suicide prevention programs and other mental health care initiatives, including tackling the widespread problem of clinical depression suffered by so many of the general population, it is very difficult to foresee the previous government's stated target to reduce the suicide rate to around 23,000 by the year 2016 as being achievable. On the contrary the suicide rate could even get even worse is more is not done to prevent this terrible loss of life.Unless the new administration initiates very proactive and well-funded local and nationwide suicide prevention programs and other mental health care initiatives, including tackling the widespread problem of clinical depression suffered by so many of the general population, it is very difficult to foresee the previous government's stated goal of reducing the suicide rate to around 23,000 by 2016 as achievable.
The current numbers licensed psychiatrists (around 13,000), Japan Society of Certified Clinical Psychologists clinical psychologists (19,830 as of 2009), and Psychiatric Social Workers (39,108 as of 2009) must indeed be increased. In order for professional mental health counseling and psychotherapy services to be covered for depression and other mental illnesses by public health insurance it would seem advisable that positive action is taken to resume and complete the negotiations on how to achieve national licensing for clinical psychologists in Japan through the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and not just the Ministry of Education as is the current situation. These discussions were ongoing between all concerned mental health professional authorities that in the ongoing select committee and ministerial levels that were ongoing during the Koizumi administration. With the current economic recession adding even more hardship and stress in the lives its citizens, now would seem to be a prime opportunity for the responsible Japanese to take a pro-active approach to finally providing government approval for national licensing for clinical psychologists who provide mental health care counseling and psychotherapy services to the people of Japan.
During these last ten years of these relentlessly high annual suicide rate numbers the English media seems in the main to have done little more than have someone goes through the files and do a story on the so-called suicide forest or internet suicide clubs and copycat suicides (whether cheap heating fuel like charcoal briquettes or even cheaper household cleaning chemicals) and mirrors at stations, and now lights at stations,
Economic hardship, bankruptcies and unemployment have been the main cause of suicide in Japan over the last 10 years, as the well detailed reports behind the suicide rate numbers that have been issued every year until now by the National Police Agency in Japan show only to clearly if any journalist is prepared to learn Japanese or get a bilingual researcher to do the research to get to the real heart of the tragic story of the long term and unnecessarily high suicide rate problem in Japan.
I would also like to suggest that as many Japanese people have very high reading skills in English that any articles (or works of fiction which I appreciate this is) dealing with suicide in Japan could usefully provide contact details for hotlines and support services for people who are depressed and feeling suicidal.
Useful telephone numbers and links for Japanese residents of Japan who speak Japanese and are feeling depressed or suicidal:
Japan: 0120-738-556
Tokyo: 3264 4343
2009年5月18日月曜日
貧困、生活苦、自殺
2008年の自殺者3万2249人のうち、30代が前年比1．7％増の4850人で、統計の残る1978年以降最多となったことが14日、警察庁のまとめで分かった。20代も過去5番目に多かった。
学生が11．3％増となり、職業別で増加が目立ったほか、「生活苦」「失業」など不況の影響がみられる原因・動機も大幅に増えた。
08年の自殺者は前年より844人（2．6％）減ったが、11年連続で3万人を超えた。
年齢別では、最多が50代の6363人（9．7％減）。続いて60代の5735人（0．4％増）、40代の4970人（2．5％減）、30代の4850 人、70代の3697人（5．4％減）、20代の3438人（3．9％増）、80歳以上の2361人（5．1％減）、19歳以下の611人（11．5％ 増）の順だった。
職業別では、主婦や年金生活者など無職者が1万8279人（3．7％減）で最多。次いで被雇用者8997人（1．7％減）、自営業・家族従業者3206人（2．2％減）、学生・生徒972人と続いた。
５月１４日 Yahoo!ニュース
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20090514-00000039-jij-soci
学生が11．3％増となり、職業別で増加が目立ったほか、「生活苦」「失業」など不況の影響がみられる原因・動機も大幅に増えた。
08年の自殺者は前年より844人（2．6％）減ったが、11年連続で3万人を超えた。
年齢別では、最多が50代の6363人（9．7％減）。続いて60代の5735人（0．4％増）、40代の4970人（2．5％減）、30代の4850 人、70代の3697人（5．4％減）、20代の3438人（3．9％増）、80歳以上の2361人（5．1％減）、19歳以下の611人（11．5％ 増）の順だった。
職業別では、主婦や年金生活者など無職者が1万8279人（3．7％減）で最多。次いで被雇用者8997人（1．7％減）、自営業・家族従業者3206人（2．2％減）、学生・生徒972人と続いた。
５月１４日 Yahoo!ニュース
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20090514-00000039-jij-soci
2009年5月2日土曜日
東京都人口
都人口：１２９４万２３６６人 前月比３万３５１０人増－－４月１日現在 ／東京
都は２７日、４月１日現在の都の人口の推計値を公表した。それによると、人口総数は１２９４万２３６６人で前月より３万３５１０人（０・２６％）増加した。男女別では男６４３万９４２９人、女６５０万２９３７人。
０５年１０月１日現在の国勢調査人口を基準値とし、毎月の住民基本台帳などの増減数を加えて推計した数字。区部が８７７万２８２６人、市部が４０８万３６１０人、郡部が５万８５４０人、島部が２万７３９０人。
前月比、前年同月比ともに人口増の最も多かったのは江東区。都は同区の人口増加について、「マンションの建設ラッシュが背景にある」とみている。【鮎川耕史】
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
◇人口増の多い区市町村ベスト５（前年同月比）
（１）江東区 ９９８７人
（２）足立区 ７１４４人
（３）練馬区 ５１８７人
（４）大田区 ５１８５人
（５）世田谷区 ４９５４人
英訳毎日新聞 2009年4月28日 地方版
殺人未遂：暴力を相談後、妻子が男性殺害
殺人未遂：暴力を相談後、妻子が男性殺害 容疑で逮捕－－広島県警
３０日午前６時１５分ごろ、広島県竹原市の自営業の男性（５７）方から「首を絞めて夫を殺した」と女の声で警察に通報があった。駆けつけた警察官 が、首にひもを巻かれぐったりしている男性を１階居間で発見。約１時間後に死亡が確認された。県警竹原署の調べでは、電話したのは妻（４０）で、１階には 当時、高専生の長男（１８）、私立高１年の長女（１５）もいた。同署は、妻に暴力を振るう男性に耐えかね男性を殺害しようとしたとして、３人を殺人未遂容 疑で逮捕した。解剖の結果では男性の死因を特定できず、殺人容疑の適用は見合わせた。
容疑は、３人は３０日午前６時ごろ、１階居間で、男性が妻に暴力を振るい始めたため、共謀して首にひもを巻き付け絞め殺そうとしたとしている。いずれも容疑を認め、長女は「家族みんなが殺されると思った」と話しているという。
調べでは、男性は６人家族。残りの小学生と中学生の男児は２階で寝ていたという。
妻が１７日、同署に「夫に殴られた。以前も殴られたことがある」などと相談。自宅を訪れた警官が被害届を出すように勧めたが妻は出さず、警官は男性に注意したという。【牧正、寺岡俊、星大樹、黒岩揺光】
◇原田貢・竹原署次長の話
被害申告が出されず、外傷もなかったので、（夫を）逮捕できなかった。殴ってはいけないと夫に警告した。措置としては適正と考える。
毎日新聞 2009年5月1日 東京朝刊
2009年4月13日月曜日
平成２０年の自殺率
昨年の自殺者３万２２４９人…１１年連続３万人超
昨年１年間の全国の自殺者は３万２２４９人で前年より８４４人（２・６％）減少したことが２日、警察庁のまとめでわかった。
自殺者が減少するのは２年ぶりだが、３万人を超える状況は１９９８年から１１年連続で続いている。
人口１０万人あたりの自殺者数を示す自殺率は２５・３で前年より０・６減少。自殺者のうち男性は前年より６４７人減の２万２８３１人で、女性は同１９７人減の９４１８人だった。このうち、昨年急増した硫化水素による自殺は１０５６人。
月別に見ると、米証券大手リーマン・ブラザーズが
都道府県別では、東京が最も多い２９４１人で、大阪２１２８人、神奈川１８１８人、北海道１７２６人、埼玉１６５３人の順。九州地方の全県を含 め、全国２９都府県で自殺者が減少する一方、北海道（前年比８６人増）、長野（同８０人増）、埼玉（同６８人増）など大幅に増加した自治体も目立ち、１８ 道県で前年よりも自殺者が増加した。
記事全文を見るなら→http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20090402-OYT1T00435.htm
うつ病と自殺
２０２０年には、うつ病が生命を脅かす疾病の第２位になる——世界保健機関（ＷＨＯ）が示した将来予測だ。
記事全文を読むには→http://mytown.asahi.com/aomori/news.php?k_id=02000460903280001
時に「死にたい」という気持ちになってしまう、うつ病に、誰もがなりうるという予測である。しかし、うつ病への理解は他の病気に比べて進んでいないのが現状だ。
〈クビになったことを家族に言い出せず『もうだめだ。いっそのこと死んだら、楽になれるかなあ』と思い詰めるが、家族の『何でもいいから 話して』という言葉で家族に打ち明ける。家族から相談を受けた医師が『うつ状態』と診断し、家族や周りの人の支えもあり、清さんは『死ねば苦しみから逃れ られるといつも思っていたけど、いろんな人に相談してよかった』と、徐々に社会復帰していく〉
南部町、つがる市に共通しているのは「うつをタブー視せず、うつによる自殺はなくすことができる」という考え方だ。
県立精神保健福祉センターの岩佐所長は「うつ状態になったときに、相談できるところがあるかどうかで自殺者を減らせるかが決まる」と語った。
記事全文を読むには→http://mytown.asahi.com/aomori/news.php?k_id=02000460903280001
自殺率
自殺率とは
人口１０万人当たりの自殺者数。厚生労働省の統計によると、日本では２００６年が２３・７だった。男性が３４・８で、女性の１３・１を大きく上回っている。日本の自殺率は米国の２倍以上、英国やイタリアの３倍以上と、国際的にみても高い。
参照→http://plus.yomiuri.co.jp/article/words/%E8%87%AA%E6%AE%BA%E7%8E%87?from=yahootp
景気の悪化とともに自殺の増加が心配されている。警察庁は自殺者数を年１回発表してきたが、今月からは月単位での発表を始めた。県内では０３年の５７６人 をピークに減少傾向だったが、自殺死亡率は高い水準のまま。県内の自殺率はなぜ高いのか、自殺防止に有効な手だてはあるのか——。（有近隆史）
青森県の自殺死亡率は０２〜０６年に４年連続でワースト２位を記録。０３年の自殺者数は５７６人（自殺死亡率３９・５）と過去最悪だった。以降は減少傾向が続いたが、なお高い水準で推移している。
県警がまとめた０８年のデータによると、同年の自殺者数は５１３人。その動機をみると、最多が「健康問題」（２１２人）、次いで「経済・生活問題」（１８５人）、「家庭問題」（７０人）と続いている。特に青森の場合、他県より経済問題が多いのが特徴となっている。
しかし、県立精神保健福祉センターの岩佐博人所長（５４）は「どれか一つだけの理由で自殺に追い込まれるのではなく、要因が複合的に絡み 合っている。借金問題から家族関係がぎくしゃくして、ストレスが蓄積されてうつ状態になり死にたくなるというケースもある」と指摘する。
◇専門家との連携必要
県も手をこまねいているわけではない。自殺者が５００人を超えた０２年ごろから本格的に対策を取り始めた。
０１年１月、「健康あおもり２１」という名称の計画を策定。ここで、「自殺者数を１０年までに２９４人以下にする」と数値目標を初めて掲げた。
「健康あおもり２１」は自殺対策を「こころの健康づくりの重要課題」と位置づけ、うつ病など心の病の対策として「心のヘルスアップ事業」を進めてきた。
県は０６年、自殺の原因となりかねない経済、家庭、医療などの問題に取り組むために「県自殺対策連絡協議会」を設置。悩み別の相談窓口が書かれたパンフレットを作成し、配布している。
記事全文を読むなら→http://mytown.asahi.com/aomori/news.php?k_id=02000460903280001
2009年4月12日日曜日
アスペルガー症候群
Girl diagnoses herself with Asperger's after reading book
アスペルガー症候群（－しょうこうぐん、Asperger syndrome: AS）は、興味・関心やコミュニケーションについて特異であるものの、知的障害がみられない発達障害のことである。「知的障害がない自閉症」として扱われることも多いが、公的な文書においては、自閉症とは区分して取り扱われていることが多い。精神医学において頻用されるアメリカ精神医学会の診断基準 (DSM-IV-TR) ではアスペルガー障害と呼ぶ。
A 10-year-old girl diagnosed herself with Asperger's syndrome after reading a book about the condition.
Rosie's six-year-old brother Lenny was diagnosed with Asperger's four years ago and their parents Richard, 43, and Sharon, 38, were keen for her to understand his perspective.
As she and her mother turned the pages of the book by Karen Leigh Simmons and came to a section on Asperger's, Rosie suggested: "I think this might be me."
Mrs King, 38, a school lunch supervisor, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, said: "We couldn't believe it. It all started to make sense.
"We always knew Lenny was autistic, since he was diagnosed when he was really young. Their behaviours are completely opposite to one another, Lenny barely says a word and is very awkward around people, and lacks any social intent, whereas Rosie has always been highly sociable.
"She could be a little peculiar, but more than anything we thought she was just a very sociable and happy child."
Rosie's sister, Daisy, eight, shares her chattiness, but has Kabuki syndrome - a rare condition that produces developmental abnormalities, such as shortness of bones, as well as learning and behavioural difficulties.
Mrs King added: "We obviously kept an eye on Rosie because of her siblings' conditions but when she blurted that out we took her straight to the specialist for some tests."
She and her husband Richard, 43, a civil engineer, immediately took her to see a speech therapist, child psychologist and behavioural therapist.
Rosie was officially diagnosed with mild Asperger's Syndrome thee months ago after a year-long process.
The condition is an autistic disorder which can cause communication and emotional problems.
Mrs King explained: "Some children with Asperger's find it very difficult to communicate with people around them, but Rosie is so inquisitive and always wants to know what's going on around her.
"We are thankful the book allowed her to seek help. At least we know what we are dealing with now and can help her when she needs it.
"Rosie is only 10 but she takes on a lot of responsibilities for someone her age. She always helps to look after Daisy and Lenny and she never complains about it.
"I feel very privileged to have a family like ours, life can be a bit stressful at times but I wouldn't change anything for the world, all three of them are amazing."
Rosie is a positive child, describing her Asperger's as an ability rather than a disability, and is now doing well at school especially in English and Literacy.
She said: "I want to make a film and I'd like to do that when I'm little and then become an inventor.
"I have also written 11 books and I love art. I like having Asperger's, it makes me different from other people and gives me a great imagination.
"I don't mind helping out with Lenny and Daisy. I love my brother and sister and wouldn't change them for anything."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/3472774/Girl-diagnoses-herself-with-Aspergers-after-reading-book.html
アスペルガー症候群（－しょうこうぐん、Asperger syndrome: AS）は、興味・関心やコミュニケーションについて特異であるものの、知的障害がみられない発達障害のことである。「知的障害がない自閉症」として扱われることも多いが、公的な文書においては、自閉症とは区分して取り扱われていることが多い。精神医学において頻用されるアメリカ精神医学会の診断基準 (DSM-IV-TR) ではアスペルガー障害と呼ぶ。
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A2%E3%82%B9%E3%83%9A%E3%83%AB%E3%82%AC%E3%83%BC%E7%97%87%E5%80%99%E7%BE%A4#.E3.82.B3.E3.83.9F.E3.83.A5.E3.83.8B.E3.82.B1.E3.83.BC.E3.82.B7.E3.83.A7.E3.83.B3.E4.B8.8A.E3.81.AE.E4.B8.BB.E3.81.AA.E7.89.B9.E5.BE.B4
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