Short Article
A Study of the Relationship between Japans Suicide Rate and the Spring Wage Increase over a Period of 34 Years: Devising Future Suicide Prevention Measures for Various Countries and Examining Numerous Issues Related to Suicide
Ken Inoue1*, Yasuyuki Fujita 2, Yoshihiro Noso3 , Haruo Takeshita4, Nobuo Takeichi2, Masaharu Hoshi5, Tolebay K. Rakhypbekov 2,6, Nailya Chayzhunusova7, Nargul Ospanova 8, Timur Moldagaliev 8, Zhanat Sarsembina 8, Akerke Kalieva9, Ulzhan Jamedinova9, Chegedekova Sholpan9, Sharapiyeva Alua9, Bitebayeva Dina9, Rei Wake10, Tsuyoshi Miyaoka10, Yoshikazu Takinami11,Yuji Okazaki 12, Jun Horiguchi101Department of Public Health, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan
2Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan
3Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan
4Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan
5Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Japan
6Rector of Semey State Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
7Department of Nutrition and Hygienic disciplines, Semey State Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
8Department of Neurology, Psychiatry and Infectious diseases, Semey State Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
9Department of Public Health, Semey State Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
10Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan
11Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan
12Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- *Corresponding Author:
- Ken Inoue
Department of Public Health
Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine
Gunma, Japan
E-mail: ke-inoue@med.shimane-u.ac.jp
Abstract
Japan had around 20,000 suicides in the early 1990s, but the annual number of suicides increased abruptly to over 30,000 in 1998. Devising and implementing suicide prevention measures to reduce the number of suicides has become a societal issue that Japan should promptly address. Over the past few years, suicides in Japan have decreased, but the suicide rate in Japan remains high in comparison to the rest of the world. We believe that clearly identifying factors and issues related to suicide and implementing specific preventive measures to address those factors are crucial to preventing suicide. The current study examines the relationship between suicide and financial issues over a prolonged period. Specifically, it examines the annual suicide rate (per 100,000 populations) during 1980–2013 and the spring wage increase (%) at major companies in Japan during the same period. This study examines suicide rate and spring wage increase statistics in detail.
We found the spring wage increase may be related to the overall (both-gender) suicide rate. Closer examination suggested that the spring wage increase is related to the suicide rate among males but not among females.
Financial hardships and financial difficulties can lead to mental exhaustion and stress. A key measure to preventing suicide due to financial reasons is providing mental health support to individuals facing financial problems. Suicide prevention measures should be coordinated by relevant bodies and the community. Such efforts in Japan and elsewhere around the world should be based on statistical analysis of the factors involved in suicide.
