Citation

Inoue K, Tanii H, Abe S, Kaiya H, Nata M, Fukunaga T. Int. Med. J. 2006; 13(4): 261-263.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Japan International Cultural Exchange Foundation)

DOI

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PMID

unavailable

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The number of suicides in Japan has increased from approximately 22,000 per year in 1988-1997 to over 30,000 per year since then, and this increase in numbers is one of the most important problems in Japan. The unemployment rates in Japan have increased rapidly since 1998. Design, Materials, and Methods: We examined all the suicide numbers and rates throughout Japan between 1985 and 2002 in cooperation with the national police agency, and we investigated the unemployment rates throughout Japan between 1985 and 2002 in cooperation with the Department of Work. We focused on the correlation of annual suicide rates in Japan with the annual unemployment rates in Japan during the test period.

RESULTS and Conclusion: The number of suicides was 307,502 males and 151,316 females. Annual suicide rates in total correlated significantly with the unemployment rates in Japan: r(18)=0.89, p<0.001; the rates in males correlated significantly with the unemployment rates in Japan: r(18)=0.94, p<0.001; while the rates in females did not correlate with unemployment rates: r(18)=0.39, p=0.11. Our results indicate that the risk of suicide increases among men in Japan who lose their jobs. When the male patients are in the bad situation because of unemployment, the family and the medical staff should pay close attention to the patient. In addition, psychosocial health care should be a part of occupational affairs administered by industrial physicians, primary care physicians, and psychiatrists in an attempt to prevent suicide. © 2006 Japan International Cultural Exchange Foundation.

Language: en

Keywords

human; Risk; suicide; Suicide; Japan; female; male; family; risk assessment; Unemployment; unemployment; article; physician; psychiatrist; patient care; regression analysis; economic aspect; medical staff; psychosocial care; correlation analysis; Psychosocial health care