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How did China get their suicide rates so low compared to Japan and South Korea? (lemmygrad.ml)

submitted 3 days ago by King_Simp@lemmygrad.ml to c/genzedong@lemmygrad.ml

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(Obvious answer is socialism but I would like more specifics)

Often China, South Korea and Japan are treated as the "big three" of stress and expectations. Between their similar college entrance exams, demanding work schedules and environments, and social expectations for people to work hard and get rich and such.

But looking at suicide rates (which are only one piece of the puzzle of course) China places fairly low, at about 6.7 per 100,000 according to Wikipedia, half of Japan's and nearly a quarter of south korea's. Interestingly this is not just a cultural difference, as the Chinese province of Taiwan reports about 16 per 100,000 people, which is even higher than Japan. It also isn't the just case of a high density population compared to low density like Finland and Iceland, since Japan and the ROK fit this designation as well (as well as India, who has a rate even higher than Japan's)

The obvious answer is socialism, but that's a little broad and not how you actually solve things. Not to mention that cuba has a decently high rate too (although considering their current impoverishment it's not surprising). So what happened specifically? Poverty alleviation sure but that can't be all of it, I don't think so anyway.

(Additional notes and questions

A.The DPRK has a rate of 8, nearly a third of the ROK, suck it fake korea

B.Why is venezuala's rate so low? From the source Wikipedia uses its one of the lowest in the world, despite the generally high poverty and instability

C.Why is Afganistan's so low? Unsure if anyone has a concrete answer to this but I'm curious)

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[–] Xiisadaddy@lemmygrad.ml 49 points 3 days ago (4 children)

I have spoken to actual chinese people about their working hours. 996 is a thing. That is where you work 9-9 6 days a week. BUT they also made it clear that its entirely possible to make a living in china not doing 996, and the people who do 996 CHOOSE to do it because they make a ton of money.

I would think that is one of the main differences. While yes they have a similar culture its entirely possible to not work much and still have a good life in china. It usually isnt optional in capitalist nations with that same culture.

I have personally contemplated suicide due to how much i was working before, and let me tell you from experience if i would have had an option to simply keep my basic needs, food, and housing, yeah i dont even include clothes or healthcare idc id have been naked and well rested. That is what i would have done. But when you are stuck working constantly, exhausted, hurting, and just barely making ends meet, and know that if you stop you'll go hungry... that is what makes people want to end it all. The idea of death felt like a chance to rest. For it to all just stop.

In China if you are struggling there are places you can go that are run by the government that will help you. Even if your entirely unable to support yourself at all they will help you. If you see a homeless person and call the police in China they'll come (quickly) and check on them. They will offer the homeless person a ride to the nearest place to get help. The person can refuse if they want, but typically will go with them. They provide housing by either checking if you have a home already and helping you get to it, or by giving you a basic place to stay. They get you food. They provide job training if you are able to work, and help you find work and get on your feet.

Personally i have broken down sobbing before because i was sure I'd be on the street imminently, and probably freeze to death. In China it wouldn't have even been something i had to worry about.

I'll end my rant with this. I saw a post on xiaohongshu where an american asked "In China can you make a living by just working at a grocery store as a cashier?" the chinese response was "If you couldn't live comfortably doing that job why would anyone do it?"

[–] King_Simp@lemmygrad.ml 15 points 3 days ago

I find it funny how the Chinese use the same logical throughlines to come to different conclusions to liberals. Instead of saying that people shouldn't be able to live comfortably in every job, because then people would just do the easy Jobs, the Chinese say that people should be able to live comfortably in all jobs so that people will do them. I also saw one person on 小红书 using the "feed a man a fish" quote, not to argue for taking welfare away, but for actually giving people jobs.

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