March is a campaign month to prevent suicides. A tentative report on suicides committed in 2019 was issued in January. It said the number of such deaths was the least with a figure less than 20 thousands and the death rate per 100 thousands of people showed the lowest, too. The numeral scale, however, is not small. Suicides in the country have stopped growing, but stay many.

WHAT IS BEHIND THE LINGERING BIG NUMBER OF SUICIDES?

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare released a statistics on the number of suicides in 2019 (a tentative report). The number is 19,959, of which for men 13,937 (69.8%), while for women 6,022 (30.2%). The figure is the lowest since the year when a statistics began. In addition, the suicide rate is recorded the lowest, 15.8, per 100 thousands of people.

Over 30 thousands deaths for 14 consecutive years

The statistics on suicides began in 1978. In 1998 the number exceeded 30 thousands probably due to the structural reform carried out by the Hashimoto government which had been formed in 1996 and a surge of the consumption tax rate from 3% to 5% in 1997. Since then until 2003, when the biggest record, 34,427, was made, for 14 consecutive years over 30 thousands people have taken their lives annually.

In 2006 a law was enacted, the Basic Law to Cope with Suicides, but it was not effective. In 2012 the number reduced to a digit of 20- thousand. In 2019 the figure will not reach the digit (the final result will be announced in late March).

According to the tentative report, Tokyo shows the most numerous record, 2,107, followed by Osaka, which has 1,191; Saitama Prefecture has 1,100, Aichi has 1,062, and Kanagawa, 1,057, in the numerical order. The smallest number is seen in Tottori Prefecture, which is 80, then in Shimane, which is 109, followed by Tokushima, 113 and Fukui, which has 123. They are followed by Kagawa and Saga, which have 149. As for the suicide rate, the highest is seen in Yamanashi Prefecture, 22.3 per 100 thousands of people. It is followed by Akita, 21.9, then by Iwate, 21.7. The lowest is recorded in Kanagawa Prefecture, 11.5, which is followed by Kyoto, 12.4 and Osaka, 13.5. Yamanashi Prefecture shows the figure 1.9 times bigger than that of Kanagawa.

More than half of victims – No job

The tentative report does not describe the age and cause. Judging from the 2018data, the biggest strata of victims are in their 50s, then in 40s and 60s. They are mostly men who support families. Looking from a point of employment, over a half of those who took their own life had no job. Following them, employees and paid workers, private business owners, family business traders and students are enumerated in the statistics.

As for causes and motivation, the data list health, no reason available, economic difficulty, livelihood, family and workplace in the numerical order. A health factor occupies a half of all, most of them are the elderly. A fact that people with no job are tolls shows unemployment is regarded as a major cause.

The reasons on the economic difficulty and livelihood reflect low wage and absence of social links with the public services, such as the Life Protection Service. They are not saved by the social security measues.

As for the workplace trouble, a suicide is committed due to overwork for long hours, or Karo-shi, or sexual and power harassments. The statistics do not tell about suicides of children and double suicides of parents and children, but certain cases do exist.

Intensify assistance!

The government of Japan revised in 2017 the comprehensive guidelines on suicides, presenting a target of the suicide rate per 100 thousand as 13.0, which is an average among the developed countries. But currently the rate remains at 15.8 here in Japan. Various, elaborate programs and activities are necessary through municipalities and NPOs. And the central government should involve sincerely, providing financial assistance to support them.

March 17, 2020