According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of people who committed suicide last month has increased from last year for five consecutive months, and it has become particularly serious among younger generations such as students and working women.
On the 21st, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare held a suicide countermeasures expert meeting in which doctors, NPOs, and bereaved families participated.
According to the summary presented at the conference, the number of people who committed suicide last month was 1835 nationwide, up 14% from the same month last year and more than the previous year for the fifth straight month since July.
Looking at the increase by gender and age group, females increased by more than 20% in all age groups from under 20 to 60s, and males increased by 34% in their 20s.
By occupation, 38% of students and students are male and female, and 36% of females are employed by companies.
It can be seen that this is especially serious for younger generations such as students and working women.
Next, the corporate judicial person "Suicide Countermeasures Promotion Center for Life Support", which was requested to be analyzed by the government, reported on the background of the increase, pointed out the concerns of society as a whole such as employment and human relations due to the new coronavirus, and then celebrities He pointed out that reports of suicide may have helped.
Attendees gave their opinions on measures taken on SNS used by young people and how suicide reports should be.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare plans to proceed with future measures based on the opinions of the meeting, but the third supplementary budget for this year, which was decided last week, includes assistance for expanding the consultation system of local governments via SNS and telephone. As a result, 14 billion yen has been recorded.
Student predicament Even in an expert survey
Experts are also investigating the background to the increase in student suicide.
Associate Professor Michiko Ueda of Waseda University, who is a public policy expert and familiar with the issue of suicide, conducted a questionnaire survey of Waseda University students from last month via the Internet and received responses from 1,900 people by the 14th of this month.
According to this, 40% of the students answered that they have experienced major changes in their lifestyles such as unemployment and a significant decrease in part-time job income in the past six months.
In addition, 20% of the students answered, "In more than half of the two weeks, I feel depressed, depressed, and desperate."
Associate Professor Ueda points out that in addition to financial difficulties, there are fewer opportunities to meet with friends to discuss and confide their concerns.
Associate Professor Ueda said, "I feel that the effects of temporary school closures and online classes are to some extent. I think that there are quite a few students who cannot consult with anyone because the new Corona has changed their relationships and connections. It is important for society as a whole to create a system in which someone can ask for help. "