Number of suicides Japan 2014-2023
In 2023, over 21.8 thousand people in Japan died by suicide. The overall number of suicides had shown a steady downward trend over the past decade but began to rise again in 2020. The unexpected upward trend is likely to be connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Attitudes on traditional gender roles in Japan may have shifted in recent decades, but social change has since been slow. Men are still expected to focus on their careers and provide for the family. Hence, economic slumps are typically reflected in rising suicide figures among men, as failure to fulfill social expectations can lead to mental health issues, which in turn might trigger suicidal thoughts. As an example, the suicide figures increased only for men in 2009 as a result of the global banking crisis. Suicide resulting from work-related issues is also more common among men than among women.
Furthermore, Japan is undergoing a demographic change and rapidly shifting into a solo society, which resulted in more single women supporting themselves. As irregular employment is more common among female than male workers, women supporting themselves were more likely to face precarious financial situations amid the pandemic. Overall, women in Japan seemed to have felt the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic more severely and in more aspects of their daily lives compared to men.
Why Japanese men are more likely to die by suicide
When looking at suicide numbers by gender, Japanese men are more likely to commit suicide compared to women. What are the main reasons for this tendency?Attitudes on traditional gender roles in Japan may have shifted in recent decades, but social change has since been slow. Men are still expected to focus on their careers and provide for the family. Hence, economic slumps are typically reflected in rising suicide figures among men, as failure to fulfill social expectations can lead to mental health issues, which in turn might trigger suicidal thoughts. As an example, the suicide figures increased only for men in 2009 as a result of the global banking crisis. Suicide resulting from work-related issues is also more common among men than among women.
The impact of COVID-19 on female suicides
The impact of the coronavirus appeared to be more prevalent among women. The reasons were complex. For one, women who were victims of domestic violence were forced to spend more time at home with their abuser. Additionally, industries hit the hardest by the pandemic were those staffed predominantly by women, such as the hospitality, retail, and caregiving sectors. Women also might have had to juggle working from home while being responsible for childcare during school closure.Furthermore, Japan is undergoing a demographic change and rapidly shifting into a solo society, which resulted in more single women supporting themselves. As irregular employment is more common among female than male workers, women supporting themselves were more likely to face precarious financial situations amid the pandemic. Overall, women in Japan seemed to have felt the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic more severely and in more aspects of their daily lives compared to men.
