According to government data, the number of suicides in August increased by 15.4 per cent to 1,854. Despite a lower rate, the number of women who commit #suicide has increased by about 40 per cent. The number of students, from elementary to high school, taking their own lives has more than doubled compared to the same period last year.
#TOKYO: Japan’s #suicide rise shows that #coronavirus #pandemic is taking a toll on #women, #teenage #girls and #children.
Economically, the SARS-CoV-2 #virus has disproportionately affected #women, who are more likely to be in irregular employment in retail or service industries. They represent almost 66 per cent of recent job losses in #Japan.
#Japan is one of the few major economies to regularly release data on #suicide, which remains a major societal issue.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
The data point to what may be happening around the world as countries grapple with the fallout from mass unemployment and #socialisolation that is impacting certain groups of people more than others.
In #Japan, the #suicide rate has been steadily falling but it remains a top cause of premature deaths – more than 13,000 this year compared to less than 2,000 for #COVID-19.
According to government data, the number of suicides jumped in August by 15.4 per cent to 1,854. Although a smaller proportion, the number of #women taking their own lives jumped by about 40 per cent. The number of suicides of #students in elementary to high school more than doubled to 59 from the same period last year.
“Up-to-date #suicide numbers can help quickly determine which groups are at high-risk,” said Yasuyuki Sawada, the chief economist at Asian Development Bank and a University of #Tokyo professor who has written books on #suicideprevention and on its economic impact.
In his view, “If local governments can determine which age group or what occupations are showing higher risks for suicides, #suicideprevention measures can be implemented swiftly.”
A US study released in May predicted as many as 75,000 additional people could die in the next decade from “deaths of despair” as a result of the #coronavirus crisis.
A study released in September by the #SuicidePrevention India Foundation found that in the South #Asian nation, 65 per cent of therapists reported an increase in self-harm and #suicideideation among patients since the #pandemic began.
The #pandemic disrupted #mentalhealthservices for vulnerable groups in more than 60 per cent of 130 countries surveyed by the #WorldHealthOrganization.
The trend in #Japan reveals that the #pandemic’s adding new, potentially deadly stressors: calls to #domesticviolence helplines have risen as families remain trapped at home together.
Neighbouring South Korea, which has the highest #suicide rate in the OECD, saw a spike in #women taking their own lives in March, April and June, though the overall number of suicides between January and July declined compared to the year before.
Usually, #women are more affected by #depression than #men who suffer more from addiction. Thus, the prolonged #pandemic probably explains the rise in women’s #suicide rate, said Paik Jong-woo, the head of Korea’s Suicide Prevention Centre.
For Toshihiko Matsumoto, director of the Drug Dependence Research department at Japan’s National Institute of Mental Health, “Public health and infectious disease prevention measures aren’t enough to save lives on their own””
In his view, there is a need for spaces where people can be away from family pressure whilst also avoiding crowded conditions with infection risk.
#Children present an even more complex picture. Pressured by the #pandemic, stressed-out parents “may be missing signs from their #children and not being compassionate enough about their problems”, said Mayumi Hangai, a #doctor at the National Centre for Child Health and Development who has surveyed #children’s #stress levels during the #coronavirus.
Any #stress or unhappiness displayed by a #parent could also transfer to their #children, who lack social outlets when #schools are closed and extracurricular activities are unavailable.
Although #Japan has seen suicides drop overall for the past decade, #youth under 20 are the only age cohort to have seen an increase.
In #Asia, the toll could be compounded by greater #stigma around #mentalhealthissues compared to western societies. In Japan, for example, there is social pressure not to show one’s feelings and true self.
With respect to the #COVID-19 #pandemic, suicides at first dropped in the spring during a state of emergency ordered by the government to curb the spread of the #virus. A collective solidarity like that inspired by wars and natural disasters also emerged.
But when the economy started reopening, portions of the population were left behind – such as laid-off workers or those who continued to be stuck at home
In #Japan, #schools restarted in June after a three-month closure, which saw an increase in reports of bullying and added #stress about catching up on schoolwork.
“#Children feel even more pressured to catch up with the delay,” said Hiroyuki Nishino, the head of Tamariba, a non-profit organisation that helps struggling #kids.
The disruption caused by #COVID-19 is exacerbating the deeply rooted phenomenon of futoko – #children refusing to go to #school. Such kids are at high risk for #suicide. “We’ve heard kids as young as five years old talking about dying or wanting to disappear,” Nishino said.
According to Lifelink, a #Tokyo-based non-profit organisation that runs a #suicide helpline, about 20 per cent of calls received from May to August were from #children in elementary, middle and high #schools.
Messaging apps have been effective for #children to reach out for help as some can use these without parental knowledge, said Yasuyuki Shimizu, the head of Lifelink. This is especially crucial when the issue is #domesticviolence.
In July, the Japanese government allocated a supplementary budget of 1.1 billion yen (US$ 10.4 million) for #suicideprevention on top of the 2.6 billion yen (US$ 2.5 million) approved in April.
The governments of Japan and South Korea, despite bitter disputes over trade and territorial rights, also regularly exchange ideas on #suicide prevention strategies, this according to an official at the Korea #Suicide Prevention Centre.
Funding and investment in #mentalhealth infrastructure to serve vulnerable populations is urgently needed in #COVID-19’s wake, experts note.
The #WorldHealthOrganization reports that #mentalhealthservices are chronically underfunded everywhere, even though studies show that investing US into care for #depression and #anxiety can return US in economic productivity.
“#Financial support from the government is important, but so is recognising that #mentalhealth is an issue,” ADB’s Sawada said. “Measures to address #mentalhealth should be a pillar of public health policy as well.”––Asia News
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
