新奇事件簿 艺人自杀增加民众自杀率

Korea's Ministry¹ of Health and Welfare has told reporters that 15,000 people a year kill themselves in South Korea. This means the country has the highest suicide² rate of any developed nation in the world. Another 100,000 people end up in hospital after trying to commit suicide. Every day, about 43 Koreans take their own life. The Ministry said that the biggest reason is stress at school or work. Other reasons include loneliness, and the sadness when another family member commits suicide. A church official said the high rate is a danger to Korean society because the country's birth rate is so low. He said: "If the high suicide trend continues, the whole society could find itself on the edge of a cliff³."

韩国保健福利部门对记者称，韩国每年的自杀人数为1.5万人。在所有发达国家中，韩国的自杀率居首。另有10万人自杀未遂，接受了医院的治疗。韩国每天的自杀人数大约为43人。该部门称引起自杀的最主要原因是上学和工作压力。其它原因包括孤独，家人因自杀而感到的悲伤情绪。一名教堂官员称，由于韩国出生率较低，所以高自杀率对韩国社会构成了威胁。他称：“如果高自杀率继续横行，那么整个社会就将处在悬崖的边缘。”

This growing problem is made worse because of copycat behaviour when a celebrity⁴ commits suicide in Korea. Research shows that the suicide rates jumps around 30 per cent in the two months after a celebrity suicide. News reports of a star's suicide can result in 600 Koreans ending their own life. Many people say television is to blame because it spends too much time reporting on news of suicides⁵ and this gives people the idea they too can end their life. The Korea Times newspaper said the government should do more to help people. It said: "To lower the suicide rate, Korea should become a more compassionate⁶ and caring society even at the expense of a slower-growing economy."

明星的自杀会让这种情况变得更加严重。研究表明就在名人自杀后的两个月内，韩国的自杀率上升了大约30%。明星自杀的报道将夺走600名韩国民众的生命。许多人将原因归罪于电视，称电视对明星自杀事件进行了长时间的报道，并为民众提供了自杀的想法。韩国时报称政府应该采取更多措施帮助人们。该报称：“就算是以降低经济增长率为代价，为了降低自杀率，韩国也应该变成一个充满同情与关爱的社会。”

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 suicide   

n.自杀，自毁，自杀性行为

参考例句：

• The number of suicide has increased.自杀案件的数量增加了。
• The death was adjudged a suicide by sleeping pills.该死亡事件被判定为服用安眠药自杀。

3 cliff   

n.悬崖，峭壁

参考例句：

• The cliff edge is dangerous and should be railed.崖边危险，应该用栏杆围起来。
• He took the measure of the cliff before he climbed it.他把悬崖的高度估量一下后再攀登。

4 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

5 suicides   

n.自杀( suicide的名词复数 )；自取灭亡；自杀者；自杀性行为

参考例句：

• Since when do suicides miss twice, lay down a rug and start over? 自杀什么时候会失手二次后铺好地毯然后再试一次？ 来自电影对白
• Chris: And the reality is suicides go to hell? 克里斯：而现实就是自杀者要下地狱？ 来自互联网

6 compassionate   

adj.有同情心的，表示同情的

参考例句：

• She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
• The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。