Michiko Ueda1, Robert Nordström1, Tetsuya Matsubayashi2. 1. Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University, Shinjuku, Tokyo 169-8050, Japan. 2. Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented public health crisis, but its effect on suicide deaths is little understood. METHODS: We analyzed data from monthly suicide statistics between January 2017 and October 2020 and from online surveys on mental health filled out by the general population in Japan. RESULTS: Compared to the 2017-19 period, the number of suicide deaths during the initial phase of the pandemic was lower than average but exceeded the past trend from July 2020. Female suicides, whose numbers increased by approximately 70% in October 2020 (incidence rate ratio: 1.695, 95% confidence interval: 1.558-1.843), were the main source of this increase. The largest increase was found among young women (less than 40 years of age). Our survey data indicated that the status of young women's mental health has been deteriorating in recent months and that young female workers were more likely to have experienced a job or income loss than any other group, suggesting adverse economic conditions surrounding them. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous monitoring of mental health, particularly that of the most vulnerable populations identified in this study, and appropriate suicide prevention efforts are necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic.
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented public health crisis, but its effect on suicide deaths is little understood. METHODS: We analyzed data from monthly suicide statistics between January 2017 and October 2020 and from online surveys on mental health filled out by the general population in Japan. RESULTS: Compared to the 2017-19 period, the number of suicide deaths during the initial phase of the pandemic was lower than average but exceeded the past trend from July 2020. Female suicides, whose numbers increased by approximately 70% in October 2020 (incidence rate ratio: 1.695, 95% confidence interval: 1.558-1.843), were the main source of this increase. The largest increase was found among young women (less than 40 years of age). Our survey data indicated that the status of young women's mental health has been deteriorating in recent months and that young female workers were more likely to have experienced a job or income loss than any other group, suggesting adverse economic conditions surrounding them. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous monitoring of mental health, particularly that of the most vulnerable populations identified in this study, and appropriate suicide prevention efforts are necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Authors: Ann John; Julian P T Higgins; David Gunnell; Emily Eyles; Roger T Webb; Chukwudi Okolie; Lena Schmidt; Ella Arensman; Keith Hawton; Rory C O'Connor; Nav Kapur; Paul Moran; Siobhan O'Neill; Luke A McGuiness; Babatunde K Olorisade; Dana Dekel; Catherine Macleod-Hall; Hung-Yuan Cheng Journal: F1000Res Date: 2020-09-04
Authors: Lori A Brotto; Kyle Chankasingh; Alexandra Baaske; Arianne Albert; Amy Booth; Angela Kaida; Laurie W Smith; Sarai Racey; Anna Gottschlich; Melanie C M Murray; Manish Sadarangani; Gina S Ogilvie; Liisa Galea Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-11-22 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Lara B Aknin; Jan-Emmanuel De Neve; Elizabeth W Dunn; Daisy E Fancourt; Elkhonon Goldberg; John F Helliwell; Sarah P Jones; Elie Karam; Richard Layard; Sonja Lyubomirsky; Andrew Rzepa; Shekhar Saxena; Emily M Thornton; Tyler J VanderWeele; Ashley V Whillans; Jamil Zaki; Ozge Karadag; Yanis Ben Amor Journal: Perspect Psychol Sci Date: 2022-01-19
Authors: Philip Hyland; Sarah Rochford; Anita Munnelly; Philip Dodd; Robert Fox; Frédérique Vallières; Orla McBride; Mark Shevlin; Richard P Bentall; Sarah Butter; Thanos Karatzias; Jamie Murphy Journal: Suicide Life Threat Behav Date: 2021-06-29