Increasing social pressure triples suicide cases<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Increasing social pressure in Jakarta is believed to be the main
\nfactor in people committing suicide, experts say, in response to
\na tripling in the number of suicide cases reported by the police.<\/p>\n
In the first semester of 2003, suicides had tripled to 62 from
\nlast year's 19 over the same period. Police reports say that most
\npeople committed suicide by hanging themselves, while some used
\nother methods, including drinking poisonous substances, cutting
\nblood vessels, jumping from high-rise buildings or setting
\nthemselves on fire.<\/p>\n
Financial difficulties were the dominant reason for people
\nwishing to end their lives. Other causes included the breakup of
\nrelationships and family-related stress.<\/p>\n
Psychologist from the University of Indonesia Sartono Mukadis
\nblamed the significant jump in suicides partly on tough urban
\nliving conditions.<\/p>\n
\"Jakarta has very few places where people can chat and share
\ntheir feelings. At the same time, social pressures on people to
\nmove up the social ladder grow stronger. People already under
\nstress cannot relieve their frustration and discontent,\" he said
\non Thursday.<\/p>\n
Sartono revealed that his study was carried out in Batam
\nisland, Riau, last year, where 34 suicides were reported within
\n10 months.<\/p>\n
He said that the high incidence of suicide in Batam was
\nclosely related to hostile conditions on the island, where
\nsolidarity within ethnic groups there had been severely
\nundermined.<\/p>\n
\"Similar circumstances could occur in Jakarta, where people
\nfrom different ethnic groups and social status live side by
\nside.\"<\/p>\n
Urban planning expert from Trisakti University Yayat
\nSupriyatna said that Jakarta had become a more stressful city due
\nto increasing social, political and economic problems.<\/p>\n
He related the stress to chronic problems that had to be
\novercome by Jakartans, following the crisis that severely hit the
\ncountry's economy in mid-1997.<\/p>\n
In 1998, Jakartans had to cope with the bloody May riots,
\nwhich led to the resignation of former president Soeharto. In
\n1999, political tension was heightened during the general
\nelection, and it was then followed by massive flooding that
\naffected most areas in the capital in early 2002.<\/p>\n
\"Jakarta has become a stressful metropolis; it is a really
\nunhealthy place to live,\" Yayat said.<\/p>\n
He also blamed Jakarta's unhealthy state on overcrowding,
\nwhich had led to a deterioration in the quality of people's
\nlives.<\/p>\n
Data from the city administration shows that the city's
\npopulation density can be more than 14,000 people per square
\nkilometer (sq km). In some areas, like Tambora, North Jakarta,
\nand Senen, Central Jakarta, the number of residents can reach
\n20,000 per sq km.<\/p>\n
Jakarta's population is about 18 million people by day and 11
\nmillion by night, due to inward commuting from adjacent urban
\narea in Greater Jakarta.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/increasing-social-pressure-triples-suicide-cases-1447893297",
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