Suicide Rate In Japan Research Articles

IMPROVING NOCOMIT-J PROGRAM AS A RESPONSE OF WOMEN’S AND YOUTH’S SUICIDE CASES SURGE DURING COVID-19

Suicide has been a long-time national problem for Japan as they hold the record for country with highest suicide rate according to WHO and the problem continues as of current. COVID - 19 which impacted most nation throughout the world including Japan, has a hand in influencing the increase of suicide rate in Japan. This increase is particularly evident in groups of youth and women who are among the most vulnerable groups in Japan, thus calls for more comprehensive sets of policy for suicide prevention. Currently there are prevention policies existing curRently. Among them there is a policy called NOCOMIT-J that will be the focus of this article. However, the rapid increase of suicide in pandemic time proves that there is an urgent need to improve the policy to suits the complexity of the situation. This paper aims to assess the variables behind the increase of suicide rates in Japan particularly for youth and women in order to use it as a basis calculation to improve the existing suicide prevention policy to focus on the group-specific problems. This paper will use qualitative method of descriptive case studies to analyze the unique factor contributing to women and youth suicide cases in pandemic time and use the result to suggest improvements for NOCOMIT-J policy by analyzing it in the established framework of holistic global mental health policy.

Association of revision of Money Lending Business Act and suicide rate in Japan: An interrupted time series analysis.

Debt problems are associated with suicide. In Japan, the Money Lending Business (MLB) Act was revised in December 2006 and fully enforced in June 2010 to reduce multiple debt problems. This study aimed to examine the association between the full enforcement of the revised act and suicide rates. An interrupted time series analysis was used to the national registry data of death records between January 2000 and December 2016. Stratified analysis was conducted to assess the differences between gender and age groups. The effects of the full enforcement on the suicide rate were the greatest among men aged 40-64 years; after the enforcement, there was a significant decrease of -0.3085 per 100,000 persons in the level of the suicide rate (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.529 to -0.0881) and -0.0165 per 100,000 persons (95% CI -0.0215 to -0.0115) in the trend. Among women aged 40-64 and ≥65 years, an increase in the level of the suicide rate was observed after the enforcement. The full enforcement of the revised MLB Act was associated with decreased suicide rates, particularly among middle-aged men. Policy interventions for addressing debt problems may have the potential to prevent suicide.

Professional help-seeking for suicide in Japan: Modifiable factors influencing help-seeking beliefs, attitudes, and intentions

• Japan has a high suicide rate but concerningly low use of professional services • Beliefs, attitudes and intentions for help seeking for suicidal ideation were examined • High suicide literacy, low stigma, and low self-reliance associated with more positive attitudes • Specific subgroups of the Japanese population with increased risk were identified • There is a need to develop public health messaging to increase professional service use Despite high suicide rates in Japan, many people do not seek professional help for suicidal thoughts. We identified modifiable factors associated with help-seeking beliefs, attitudes, and intentions for suicidal ideation, and examined characteristics associated with suicidal ideation. Participants were 217 Japanese adults recruited online. We assessed beliefs, attitudes and intentions regarding professional help seeking, and recent suicidal ideation. Greater suicide exposure and less social support were associated with more negative help-seeking beliefs. More positive help-seeking attitudes were associated with less education, no religious affiliation, greater suicide literacy, lower suicide stigma, and lower self-reliance. No significant correlates of help-seeking intentions were identified. Recent suicidal ideation was associated with non-binary gender, less education, negative beliefs/attitudes towards help-seeking, poorer mental health, lower mastery, less social support, greater self-reliance, and greater suicide normalisation. Interventions to improve help-seeking in Japan emphasise the limits of self-reliance, and increase knowledge around suicide prevention and professional psychological services.

Japan's Declining Suicide Rate in Light of The Jisatsu Taisaku Kihon Hou Policy

Suicide in some countries in the world is not a big problem. But in Japan, suicide is a very worrying social problem. Japan since 1998 experienced a very high increase in suicide rates. In 1998, suicide rates in Japan rose to above 30 thousand, after previously stabilizing at 20 thousand. This suicide rate lasts up to 5 years and shows no signs of decreasing. Therefore, in 2006, the Japanese government made Jisatsu Taisaku Kihon Hou or suicide measures basic law to reduce suicide rates. As a result, suicide rates declined in 2010, 4 years after the adoption of the suicide measures basic law. This research seeks to reveal the influence of Jisatsu Taisaku Kihon Hou by decreasing suicide rates in Japan. The object of research is various kinds of public documents relating to suicide in Japan in the period from 2006 to 2019. Using policy theory and literature, this study reveals the impact brought about by making suicide prevention laws on suicide rates that high in Japan since 1998. This research shows the efforts of the Japanese government to reduce suicide rates by using a variety of programs for all ages and to apply to all kinds of places. Thus, suicide rates can be reduced so that the suicide rate in Japan is no longer a social problem.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates in Japan through December 2021: An interrupted time series analysis

SummaryBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic is negatively impacting mental health globally. While increased social cohesion may have initially decreased suicide risk, there are few reports on the long-term impact. We examined the impact of the pandemic on suicide by gender and age through December 2021 in Japan.MethodsWe analyzed trends in monthly suicide rates by age and gender from January 2016 to December 2021 using provisional mortality data in an interrupted time series analysis. We also considered linear trends in the pre-pandemic period and seasonal variations. Pandemic onset was defined as from April 2020. Estimated excess deaths by suicide that occurred during the pandemic were calculated.FindingsExcess number of suicide deaths during the pandemic period was estimated to be 1208 for men and 1825 for women. While there was no statistically significant increase in suicide rates overall for both men and women during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic, age-specific analyses showed a statistically significant increase in men 20–29 and 40–49 years, and in women of all age groups, except those under 20, 40–49 and over 80 years.InterpretationThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on suicide rates in Japan and the impact is most pronounced in women and younger age groups. Subgroup analyses are needed, with a particular focus on those considered to be vulnerable and at increased suicide risk.FundingA Grant-in-Aid for scientific research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (Award Number 21K10462).

Method-specific suicide trends from 1979 to 2016 among Japanese adolescents

BackgroundIn 2015 the Japanese government set a target of a 30% reduction in the total suicide rate by 2025, but deaths among adolescents have been rising since. In 2018 the overall suicide rate increased by 33% among Japanese students, as a part of a continued trend of rising suicide among adolescents. This study analysed the trends in method-specific suicide among Japanese adolescents from 1979 to 2016. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study using data obtained from the vital statistics registration of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Japan. Poisson regression analysis was performed among 10–20-year-olds separately by sex, with year, age category, suicide method and a 1998 step variable as covariates. ResultsThere was a sharp increase in suicide rates among boys (Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR), 1.68; 95% CI, 1.58–1.77) and girls (IRR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.56–1.84) aged 10–20 years in 1998 when the overall suicide rate in Japan was at its peak. The commonly used method of suicide, hanging, has increased rapidly among high school and university-level aged adolescents since 1998. LimitationsThe computed mortality rates may have been affected by the shift in mortality coding from ICD-9 to ICD-10 in 1995. ConclusionsSuicide among adolescents has been rising since the early 1990s. Several cultural factors such as notoriety of internet suicide and detergent suicide could have influenced the increase in suicide among adolescents. There is an urgent need to address suicide by hanging and gas among high school and university-aged adolescents.

Reasons for Suicide During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan

Although the suicide rate in Japan increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, the reasons for suicide have yet to be comprehensively investigated. To assess which reasons for suicide had rates that exceeded the expected number of suicide deaths for that reason during the COVID-19 pandemic. This national, population-based cross-sectional study of data on suicides gathered by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare from January 2020 to May 2021 used a times-series analysis on the numbers of reason-identified suicides. Data of decedents were recorded by the National Police Agency and compiled by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. For category analysis, we compared data from January 2020 to May 2021 with data from December 2014 to June 2020. For subcategory analysis, data from January 2020 to May 2021 were compared with data from January 2019 to June 2020. The main outcome was the monthly excess suicide rate, ie, the difference between the observed number of monthly suicide deaths and the upper bound of the 1-sided 95% CI for the expected number of suicide deaths in that month. Reasons for suicide were categorized into family, health, economy, work, relationships, school, and others, which were further divided into 52 subcategories. A quasi-Poisson regression model was used to estimate the expected number of monthly suicides. Individual regression models were used for each of the 7 categories, 52 subcategories, men, women, and both genders. From the 29 938 suicides (9984 [33.3%] women; 1093 [3.7%] aged <20 years; 3147 [10.5%] aged >80 years), there were 21 027 reason-identified suicides (7415 [35.3%] women). For both genders, all categories indicated monthly excess suicide rates, except for school in men. October 2020 had the highest excess suicide rates for all cases (observed, 1577; upper bound of 95% CI for expected number of suicides, 1254; 25.8% greater). In men, the highest monthly excess suicide rate was 24.3% for the other category in August 2020 (observed, 87; upper bound of 95% CI for expected number, 70); in women, it was 85.7% for school in August 2020 (observed, 26; upper bound of 95% CI for expected number, 14). In this study, observed suicides corresponding to all 7 categories of reasons exceeded the monthly estimates (based on data from before or during the COVID-19 pandemic), except for school-related reasons in men. This study can be used as a basis for developing intervention programs for suicide prevention.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Suicide Rates in Japan: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Suicide Rates in Japan: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Suicide Rates in Japan: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Suicide Rates in Japan: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis

Monthly suicide rates during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Japan

This paper uses 2018–2020 prefecture–month–year, gender–month–year, and age group–month–year level data on suicide rates in Japan to document how suicide rates are evolving during the COVID-19 pandemic. I use a monthly event study design to study changes in suicide rates surrounding Japan’s COVID-19 state of emergency and to trace out monthly changes in suicide rates during the first 11 months of 2020 relative to 2018–2019. I find that monthly suicide rates during the pandemic started increasing meaningfully in June–July 2020. I find that women experienced greater increases in suicide rates than men, relative to their 2018–2019 average suicide rate, and that women experienced the largest increase in suicide rates in October 2020. I also find descriptive evidence that in terms of suicide, individuals under 30 years old were faring worse during the pandemic.

Suicide rates during social crises: Changes in the suicide rate in Japan after the Great East Japan earthquake and during the COVID-19 pandemic

We aimed to observe the changes in suicide rates after the Great East Japan Earthquake and during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as typical cases of social crises, in Japan. A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted using data on the number of deaths by suicide published by the National Police Agency. The suicide rate ratio during the crisis—the monthly suicide mortality rate in the year of the crisis divided by the average suicide mortality rate in the three years before the crisis—was used as the indicator. After the earthquake, in March 2011 the suicide rate was 18% lower than the average mortality rate for the previous three years. However, it increased by 18% in May and 8% in June; increased mortality was observed among women. The suicide rate began to decline after October 2011. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the suicide rate decreased from February to June 2020. The declines in April and May were significant at 20% and 18%, respectively. From July onwards, the suicide rate of women began to rise, and from October, the overall suicide also began to increase. The rise in female suicide rates was significant, especially in October, with an increase of 70%. Thus, during these crises, suicide rates fell temporarily but then rose, especially among women. The period of increase in suicide rates was longer during the COVID-19 pandemic than after the earthquake. Therefore, there is an urgent need to promote measures for suicide prevention currently, and during a future crisis.

Assessment of Suicide in Japan During the COVID-19 Pandemic vs Previous Years

There are concerns that suicide rates may have increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To assess whether suicide rates in Japan increased in April through November 2020 compared with previous years. This cross-sectional study used national data obtained from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare from 2016 to 2020 on the monthly number of individuals who died of suicide in Japan from January to November of 2016 to 2020. 2020 vs previous years. The main outcome was monthly suicide rates, calculated as the number of individuals who died of suicide divided by the total population. A difference-in-difference regression model was used to estimate the change in monthly suicide rates in April to November 2020 vs these months in 2016 to 2019. Analyses included 90 048 individuals (61 366 [68.1%] men) who died of suicide from 2016 to 2020. The difference-in-difference analysis of men showed that there was no increase in suicide rates from April through September 2020 compared with these months in 2016 to 2019, but that suicide rates were increased in October (difference-in-difference, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.14 to 0.67] suicide deaths per 100 000 population) and November (difference-in-difference, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.07 to 0.60] suicide deaths per 100 000 population). Among women, suicide rates in 2020 compared with 2016 to 2019 increased in July (difference-in-difference, 0.24 [95% CI, 0.09 to 0.38] suicide deaths per 100 000 population), August (difference-in-difference, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.16 to 0.45] suicide deaths per 100 000 population), September (difference-in-difference, 0.29 [95% CI, 0.15 to 0.44] suicide deaths per 100 000 population), October (difference-in-difference, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.48 to 0.77] suicide deaths per 100 000 population), and November (difference-in-difference, 0.29 [95% CI, 0.15 to 0.44] suicide deaths per 100 000 population). In secondary analyses in which the suicide rates of 2020 were compared with the expected rates based on trends from 2011 to 2019, the increases in suicide rates were most pronounced among men aged younger than 30 years (eg, November: observed vs expected rate ratio [RR], 1.48 [95% CI, 1.26-1.71]) and women aged younger than 30 years (eg, October: observed vs expected RR, 2.14 [95% CI, 1.76 to 2.52]) and 30 to 49 years (eg, October: observed vs expected RR, 2.30 [95% CI, 2.01 to 2.58]). These findings suggest that compared with previous years, suicide rates in Japan in 2020 increased in October and November for men and in July through November for women.

Monthly Suicide Rates During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Japan

I use 2018-2020 prefecture-month-year level and gender-month-year level data on suicide rates in Japan to document how suicide rates are evolving during the COVID-19 pandemic. I use a monthly event study design to study changes in suicide rates surrounding Japan’s COVID-19 state of emergency and to trace out monthly changes in suicide rates during the first 11 months of 2020 relative to 2018-2019. I find that monthly suicide rates during the pandemic started increasing meaningfully in June-July. October exhibits the highest change in suicide rates for women. I also find that women experienced higher changes in suicide rates, relative to their 2018-2019 average suicide rate, when I compare men and women.

Impact of class-level labelling change on prescriptions of antidepressants for adolescents: An interrupted time-series study using a health insurance claims database in Japan, 2005-2013.

BackgroundIn October 2007, the Japanese Health Authority directed that precautions be added to antidepressants (ADs) labelling regarding suicide risk among young people.This study evaluates the impact of the labelling change on AD prescriptions and Japanese adolescent suicide rates.MethodsWe compared AD prescription rates per 100,000 population as a primary outcome. The intervention group comprised adolescents (10–24 years), while the control group comprised adults (25–64 years). We defined the pre-intervention period as January 2005 to October 2007 and post-intervention as November 2007 to February 2013. Monthly prescription rate data from a commercial claims database were triangulated with annual suicide rates in Japan. We performed segmented regression analysis for the prescription rates, using a quasi-Poisson model, and tested for level and trend changes.ResultsThe commercial claims database included 152,686 adolescents and 195,251 adults during the pre-intervention period and 846,367 adolescents and 1,352,453 adults during post-intervention. Post-intervention, the overall AD prescription rates decreased only in adult males (-95.8 prescription per 100,000) but increased in all other groups. The mean annual suicide rate increased in adolescent males (+1.5 suicides per 100,000) but decreased in all other groups. Overall, the upward trend became moderate or inverse in all groups post-intervention but with a large difference between males and females. The suicide rates rose slightly in adolescents but began declining in adults a year post-intervention. In females, changes in level, trend, and suicide rates were very small in both adolescents and adults.ConclusionsContrary to expectations, the mean prescription rates only decreased in adult males, but not in adolescents, regardless of gender. Downward level and trend change were clearly observed in adult males but not in adolescents, the original target of the updated warning. There were no clear temporal associations between suicide rates and the labelling change in either group.

Characteristics of Disaster-Related Suicide in Fukushima Prefecture After the Nuclear Accident.

. Background: Suicide is a major concern after the 2011 earthquake and nuclear accident in Fukushima. Aims: This study delineates characteristics of the disaster-related suicides in Fukushima. Method: Data provided by the Fukushima Prefectural Police and data published by the Fukushima or Japanese Government were analyzed. Numbers of disaster-related suicides and evacuees were compared among the three prefectures affected. Age, sex, occupation, and means for disaster-related suicides in Fukushima were compared with overall suicides in Fukushima or Japan. History of medical treatment, changes in job and family structure after the disaster, and signs of contemplation were examined within the disaster-related suicides of Fukushima. Results: While other prefectures have experienced a drop in disaster-related suicides, Fukushima has not. Age-standardized disaster-related suicide rates were remarkably higher in men than in women. Moreover, disaster-related suicide rates in Fukushima were higher in women in their 50s and 80s as compared with overall suicide rates in Fukushima or Japan. Limitations: No detailed comparisons were made between disaster-related and non-disaster-related suicides. Conclusion: Disaster-related suicide rates were higher in men than in women. Also, it was found that the disaster-related suicide rates of elderly women were higher compared with overall suicide rates in Japan and Fukushima. In addition, many who died by suicide showed signs of contemplation before the attempt and had started psychiatric treatment. Improvement of suicide risk assessment skills for mental health professionals and gatekeeper training among residents will be essential to prevent disaster-related suicides.

Suicide by persons with foreign background in Japan.

PurposeThis study examined trends in the suicide rates of persons with foreign background in Japan.MethodsUsing the nationwide death records in the Vital Statistics of Japan, we first reported the age-adjusted suicide rates of 8 foreign nationals (Brazil, China, Korea, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States) in Japan by sex from 1980 to the mid-2010s. We also computed rate ratios to compare the suicide rate of each group with those of the Japanese population. Second, we focused on Koreans, who had the highest suicide rate in Japan. We compared the suicide rates of Koreans in Japan with Koreans in South Korea to examine whether their suicide rates were more closely related to those of their country of origin or those of their host country.ResultsWe found that the suicide rates of Koreans and Chinese in Japan were similar to or higher than those of Japanese, while other groups tended to show lower suicide rates. Most notably, Koreans displayed consistently high suicide rates from 1980 to the mid-2010s, which were nearly twice as high as those of the Japanese population. Korean males and females in Japan had higher suicide rates than those in South Korea.ConclusionsImmigrants in Japan were not necessarily influenced by the suicide rates of the host country. The high suicide rates among Korean residents in Japan might be explained by various disadvantages and adversities that they face in Japan.

Psycho-oncology: History, Current Status, and Future Directions in Japan

One of the most relevant risk factors for cancer is aging; thus, the number of patients who develop cancer and die is increasing in Japan. Cancer has been a leading cause of death since 1981, and more than one-fourth of Japanese people die of cancer. More than 1,000,000 and 37,000 Japanese people develop cancer and die every year, respectively, making it a major health problem in Japan.Psycho-oncology is a relatively new medical field that was established in the 1970s in Western countries and introduced in Japan in the 1980s. Psycho-oncology was developed for investigating two issues neglected in previous medical research: the impact of behavioral and psychosocial factors on cancer morbidity and mortality and the psychological influence of cancer on patients, their families, and medical staff.Because of progress made in cancer treatment, cancer diagnosis is not necessarily equivalent to a death sentence. However, approximately half of patients with cancer die, and many patients with cancer and their families need appropriate care for psychological distress. The most common psychiatric problems patients with cancer experience are adjustment disorders, major depression, and/or delirium. In addition, the suicide rate in Japan for individuals within 1 year of a cancer diagnosis is more than 20 times higher than that for individuals without cancer. Physical symptoms, such as pain and nausea/vomiting, can be closely associated with psychological function. Mental health professionals, particularly psycho-oncologists, are expected to work with other cancer professionals to manage patients' distress.The present review focuses on patients with cancer' psychological distress and physical symptoms that are closely associated with psychological function and provides an overview of the current status of psycho-oncology in Japan. The future perspective of psycho-oncology is also discussed.

The cost of high suicide rates in Japan and the Republic of Korea: Reduced life expectancies

Japan and the Republic of Korea, while having some of the highest life expectancies in the world, also have the highest suicide rates. This study uses actuarial multiple decrement techniques to calculate the reduction in life expectancy due to suicide in these countries. As of 2013, suicides shortened life expectancy at birth by 1.12 per cent in Japan and 0.83 per cent in the Republic of Korea. Most critically affected by suicide are Japanese males, with a 1.50 per cent reduction in life expectancy at birth. Additionally, the Republic of Korea sees a 0.80 per cent reduction in life expectancy at age 60 – a disturbingly high percentage when considering the high mortality rates from natural causes of death at this age. These results suggest that high suicide rates in Japan and the Republic of Korea have massive implications in terms of social costs and economic productivity.

National Suicide Prevention, Local Mental Health Resources, and Suicide Rates in Japan.

Suicide rates in Japan are relatively high in OECD countries. A national fund to help local authorities implement suicide prevention programs was launched in 2009. The national suicide prevention project was transferred from the Cabinet Office to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare on April 2016, with a greater focus on mental health promotion by local governments. The aim of the present study was to (a) identify local authorities' implementation of suicide prevention programs in terms of local health policies, and (b) examine the associations between local health resources and suicide rates in Japan. We investigated the types of programs implemented under the fund, and correlations with authorities' sociodemographic characteristics and mental health and welfare resources. A majority of authorities implemented general suicide prevention programs. More focused programs addressing issues such as mental health in the workplace, alcohol problems, and attempted suicide were less frequently implemented. There were significantly fewer suicides in health regions with a higher ratio of psychiatrists to residents or a lower ratio of psychiatric beds. A causal relationship between suicide rates and characteristics of local authorities cannot be inferred from the data. A community mental health system that operated in parallel to the current system may result in fewer inpatients and a reduction in Japan's suicide rate.

An analysis of secular trends in method-specific suicides in Japan, 1950\u20131975

BackgroundIn Japan, a dramatic rise in suicide rates was observed in the 1950s, especially among the younger population, and then the rate decreased rapidly again in the 1960s. The aim of this study was to assess secular trends in method-specific suicides by gender and age in Japan between 1950 and 1975. We paid special attention to suicides by poisoning (solid and liquid substances), and their contribution to dramatic swings in the overall suicide rate in Japan during the 1950s and 1960s.MethodsMortality and population data were obtained from the Vital Statistics of Japan and Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in Japan, respectively. We calculated method-specific age-standardized suicide rates by gender and age group (15–29, 30–49, or 50+ years).ResultsThe change in the suicide rate during the research period was larger in males than females in all age groups, and was more marked among people aged 15–29 years compared to those aged 30–49 years and 50 years or over. Poisoning by solid and liquid substances overwhelmingly contributed to the dramatic change in the overall suicide rates in males and females aged 15–49 years in the 1950s and 1960s. For the peak years of the rise in poisoning suicides, bromide was the most frequently used substance.ConclusionsOur results for the 1950s and 1960s in Japan illustrated how assessing secular trends in method-specific suicides by gender and age could provide a deeper understanding of the dramatic swings in overall suicide rate. Although rapid increases or decreases in suicide rates have been also observed in some countries or regions recently, trends in method-specific suicides have not been analyzed because of a lack of data on method-specific suicide in many countries. Our study illustrates how the collection and analysis of method-specific data can contribute to an understanding of dramatic shifts in national suicide rates.