1, MLA citation
This news report is about suicide rate increase in Japan. Here is the MLA citation.
“No letup in suicide rate.” The Japan Times. June 10 2010. June 15 2010.

2, source
No letup in suicide rate
The National Police Agency announced last month that 32,845 people took their own lives in 2009, a rise of 596 from the previous year. This marks the 12th consecutive year in which the number of suicides has topped 30,000 — a sad persistent trend in Japan.
The police determined the likely causes of 24,434 suicides, or 74 percent of all cases, by such means as notes left by victims or information from people close to victims. Unemployment led 1,071 people to kill themselves, an increase of 65.3 percent; other life-related hardships led to 1,731 suicides, a rise of 34.3 percent.
The number of suicides jumped in October 2008 following the onset of the global financial crisis and has remained high since. Each month, from January to August 2009, saw more suicides than for the same month a year earlier.
The most frequent cause of suicide was depression, blamed for 6,949 deaths, a rise of 7.9 percent from 2008. This has been the No. 1 cause for three consecutive years. Since, the NPA says, a combination of factors often leads to suicide, it is likely that financial worries or difficult relationships and other problems at the workplace are responsible for many cases of depression.
Middle-aged people are the most susceptible to suicide. The number of suicides per 100,000 people was highest for people in their 50s (38.5 deaths), followed by those in their 60s (33.5) and those in their 40s (32.1). Ominously, the suicide rate for those in their 20s was 24.1 deaths, and it was 26.2 deaths for those in their 30s — both are a record high since 1978.
Apparently behind the suicides of young people is economic stagnation and a pervasive feeling of gloom about Japanese society. In addition to striving to identify and help those who may be suicidal, the government should put into place the economic, social and education policies that can help give young people hope and meaning to their lives.

3, Summary
The National Police Agency announced that more than 30,000 people took their own lives in 2009. This figure raise about 500 people than previous year. This marks the 12th consecutive year in which the number of suicides has topped 30,000 — increasing the suicide rate is sad and negative trend in Japan. The most frequent cause of suicide was depression. This has been the No. 1 cause for three consecutive years. The NPA says a combination of factors often leads to suicide; it is likely that financial worries or difficult relationships and other problems at the workplace are responsible for many cases of depression. In addition to striving to identify and help those who may be suicidal, the government should put into place the economic, social and education policies that can help give young people hope and meaning to their lives.

4, Opinion
When I first read this article, I got really shocked so many teenagers and younger people commit a suicide in Japan. What is worse, their most major factor lead the suicide is mental problems such as depression related with social unrest. Of course, frequently, I also feel that I want to die and want to disappear from this world. However, maybe I never commit a suicide because now, I have really good friends and family who support me. So, to avoid and prevent from being too much depression, the most important thing is making good human relationship with people who are around us. Not everyone help you, but, as least a person will absolutely help and support you.

5, Vocabulary
1) Suicide (verb): took their own lives (自殺する)
Ex) Teenager suicides are increasing.
2) Global financial crisis (phrase): global recession (国際経済危機)
Ex) Leman Shock was the typical example of global financial crisis.
3) Depression (noun): the negative feeling and emotion (憂鬱、欝)
Ex) Living away from home is leading to depression.
4) Susceptible (adjective): be affected by something easily (影響を受けやすい、感染しやすい)
Ex) I am susceptible to colds.
5) Stagnation (noun): recession (停滞、不景気)
Ex) the first quarter is the period of economic stagnation for our company.

6, Questions
1) Recession is one of the suicide factors. What should government to stop the increasing the suicide rate?
2) What do you do when you feel depression? (What is your way to release stresses?)3) If your friends or family say that he or she wants to die, how do you encourage them?