(7/13/2009)
Kompas.com reports that there were 134 suicides in Bali in 2008, an increase of 23% when compared to 2007.
Bali's northern district of Buleleng reported the greatest number of suicides in 2009 with 44 deaths (33%), followed by Karangasem with 25 (19%). Suicide deaths from other Bali districts in 2008 were Jembrana 14 (10%), Bangli 13 (10%), Gianyar 12 (9%), Denpasar 10 (7%), Tabanan 9 (7%), and Badung 5 (4%).
According to a Bali police spokesman, of the 134 cases of self-inflicted death 97 (72%) were men and 37 (28%) were women.
By age group, 56 were between the ages of 46 and 80 years, 50 were between the ages of 26-45 years, 27 were between 16 and 25 years and one death was between 5 and 15 years.
66 (49%) of Bali's suicide victims worked as farmers, 45 (34%) were self-employed, 8 (6%) were laborers, 8 (6%) were students and 7 (5%) were civil servants.
Police estimate that 53% of those who died took their lives due to chronic illness, (42%) due to personal frustration, and 7 (5%) for economic reasons.
The preferred method of self-elimination in Bal was hanging 125 followed by poisoning 5 and slitting of the throat 1.
The police spokesman called on his fellow Balinese to extend compassion and care to their neighbors as the most effective means of reducing Bali's suicide rate.
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