October 22, 2020

The number of suicides in Japan, especially among women and young people, has increased during the COVID-19 outbreak. Motives behind suicidal behavior vary, but it is believed that their motives are partially due to drastic changes in their daily lives and significant income losses caused by the pandemic.

According to data tallied by the Health Ministry and the National Police Agency, 1,805 people committed suicide in September, up 143 or 8.6% from the same month last year.

The number of suicides increased for three consecutive months, by 25 in July from a year earlier, 251 in August, and 143 in September. Regarding an increase in the total, 88 (up 15.6%) were women in July, 187 (40.3%) in August, and 138 (27.5%) in September. Meanwhile, male suicides decreased by 63 or by 5.1% in July on a year-on-year basis followed by an increase of 64 (5.6%) in August, and an increase of five (0.4%) in September. These data show a remarkable rise in the number of women suicides.

Looking at the figure in August, the highest suicide rate in the three months, the total percentage went up by 22.3% while suicides under the age of 40 went up by 44.2%. Women suicides below 40 years old in August increased by 76.6%.

Past related article:
> Amid coronavirus crisis, number of women non-regular workers decreases by 1 million [May 31, 2020]