Japan aims to reduce suicides by 30%

TOKYO: Japan aims to cut suicides by 30 percent over 10 years, with the government Tuesday approving a plan which seeks to curb extreme work hours seen as contributing to one of the world’s highest suicide rates.

Japan has the highest suicide rate among Group of Seven (G7) advanced countries and the government describes the situation as “critical” in a country where more than 20,000 people kill themselves every year.