Japan: suicides rise for the first time in 11 years

First increase in suicides in the last 11 years in Japan, with cases continuing to affect mostly women and younger people, in a context of growing uncertainty, caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

    According to preliminary data from the National Police Agency (NPA), in the whole of 2020 the number of people who took their own lives grew by 3.7% to 20,919: this is the first increase since 2009, when the economy was overwhelmed by the financial crisis, causing a high number of bankruptcy cases and a significant loss of jobs.

    In detail, the most recent numbers show a 1% decrease in suicides among men - which in any case represent by far the highest sample at 13,943, while there is a surge of 14.5% among women, 6,976, the highest figure in the last 5 years.

    Once again it is insecurity at work, greater burdens in childcare, and the inconveniences caused by forced family cohabitation that, in times of pandemic, experts say, increase the level of stress for women to a greater extent than for men. .

The figure among students

    is also worrying

, with 440 cases, a record level that exceeds the previous high of 2009.

The Ministry of Welfare and Health described the situation as 'worrying to say the least', illustrating how the health emergency has with every probability caused several still unknown complexities and obstacles that the government intends to analyze through consultation services and private assistance, in addition to economic support to a wider segment of the population.

The NPA has announced that it will publish the final report in March, contributing to a more extensive analysis of the phenomenon.

(HANDLE).