Alarming rates in Japan

     Suicide has always been an issue present since the beginning of time and has risen with the awareness of mental illnesses. Specifically looking at Japan, the rates of suicide have always been alarming for the country, especially for the rates revolving children. The main issue is that with the rise of COVID and countries going into forced quarantine, these rates increased by a large amount. Japan recorded 415 suicides among schoolchildren aged 6 to 18 during the 2020 school year -- the highest number since records began in 1974 (CNN). The simple fact that the suicide rates amongst adolescents have increased by more than 100 numbers shows that there is an unspoken issue with suicide rates and COVID.
     In a figure provided by CNN, it was shown that the rates were “31% higher than the previous school year, when 317 school children died” (CNN). Additionally, in another report it was stated that “more than 190,000 elementary and junior high school students were out of class for 30 days or more last school year, NHK said. That's a record high -- and about 8% higher than the previous year” (CNN). In a country where education is extremely important, students not being able to go to school and achieve these educational goals would cause stress amongst the students and parents. It was even stated by a doctor that "the results show that the pandemic has caused changes in the school and family environment and had an impact on children's behavior," Eguchi said” (CNN). 

Not only did the rates increase amongst children, but they also increased amongst women. Based on a report from BBC, “in one month, October, the female suicide rate in Japan went up by more than 70%, compared with the same month in the previous year” (BBC). These rates were also related to COVID and quarantine because most of the women who are going through something have also come out saying that they experience abuse at home. Within this article a suicide telephone operator stated “a girl I talked to the other day said she is getting sexually harassed by her father," Ms Tachibana tells me. "But because of Covid her father is not working so much and is at home a lot, so there is no escape from him.” (BBC). Adding on to that, the fact that people are now forced to stay at home due to COVID, it increases the chances of women experiencing abuse or worse which could increase the rates of depression between the women and then go on to increase the rates of suicide. 

    Despite this issue being talked about in articles and local newspapers, it is still a major problem because “in Japan, it's still not common to speak about mental health problems. "We're sending a message to students that it's perfectly OK to talk about mental health issues by using this device, and finding a way to save young lives" (NHK). The topic at hand is that students are being put under immense stress and going through situations that are affecting them mentally, physically, and emotionally without having anyone to feel free to talk to. When children, especially, feel as though they aren’t being listened to and they have no other solution, they make a solution that is the worst outcome. In order to combat this, the country would need to have a safe discussion about mental health or provide more safe spaces for people to talk about any issues that the are going through at home.

Jozuka, E. (2021, October 14). Child suicides in Japan are at a record high. CNN. Retrieved October 19, 2021, from https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/14/asia/suicide-children-japan-intl-hnk/index.html. 

Saori, Y. (2021, July 27). Japan's child suicide crisis: NHK World-Japan News. NHK WORLD. Retrieved October 19, 2021, from https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/1672/.

Tanaka, T., & Okamoto, S. (2021, January 15). Increase in suicide following an initial decline during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Nature News. Retrieved October 19, 2021, from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-020-01042-z.

Wingfield-Hayes, R. (2021, February 18). Covid and suicide: Japan's rise a warning to the world? BBC News. Retrieved October 19, 2021, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55837160.