36 Commit Suicide Every Day

An average 35.5 people committed suicide every day last year, a report showed Sunday.

According to the report from the National Police Agency, 12,968 people killed themselves last year.

The report was released ahead of the World Suicide Prevention Day, which falls today.

About 70 percent were male, but female suicides have been on the rise. Some 57 percent, or 7,413, were unemployed and 8.8 percent or 1,145 were farmers.

Suicide among the elderly has increased, making up 30.3 percent or 2,108.

Gyeonggi Province had the most suicides at 2,623, followed by Seoul with 2,191 and South Chungcheong Province with 1,318.

Taedium vitae (weariness or loathing of life) was the major reason, which made up 44.9 percent of total suicides, followed by sickness, 23.5 percent and failed relationships 9 percent.

According to the World Health Organization, suicide is one of the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 years.