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In 2006 the Dharma Drum Humanities and Social Improvement Foundation launched the "Caring for Life ¡V No, Suicide, No " social movement. Every year, as a part of the World Suicide Prevention day (WSPD), we partner with suicide prevention |
groups around the world to organize a series of events aimed at reminding the general population of their responsibility in suicide prevention.
At the same time, we seek to establish and strengthen people's respect for life, encourage caring and understanding, promote compassion and wisdom. Last year (2007) Dharma Drum organized our first "Caring for Life" Award for people in Taiwan to encourage groups and individuals involved with suicide prevention, and received a strong response.
Suicide prevention is now an important issue in the international community that requires everyone to work together and share their experience. This year (2008) , Dharma Drum decided to expand the scope of the awards by |
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Life is priceless, but in today's Taiwan, the pressure from social changes, the poor |
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economy, health and even political unrest have triggered emotional problems that have made some people resort to suicide. According to statistics from the Executive Yuan, the number of suicide deaths in 2005 exceeded 4000 ¡V far more than the number of people killed during the "921 Earthquake" in 2000. Suicide has therefore become a major social problem.
This suicide phenomenon has not only created shock and concern in society. Its reporting in the media has only made a spiritually impoverished population obsessed with negative thinking feel even more lost. As a result, people think about giving up when faced with the slightest provocation or setback. Others choose suicide on a momentary impulse. There are also reports of families and groups committing suicide as well. |
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