Fukushima suicides on the rise

 March 13, 2014

Suicides drop for 4th straight year in 2013; disaster-related suicides rise in Fukushima

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140313p2a00m0na012000c.html

Japan marked the fourth-straight year of a decline in the number of suicides in the country, but recorded an increase in suicides related to the Great East Japan Earthquake, according to a report.

The National Police Agency and the Cabinet Office released the report on March 13 that showed 27,283 suicides in 2013, a drop of 575, or 2.1 percent, from the previous year. It was the second year in a row for the figure to fall below 30,000, but it was still above the government's goal of less than 25,000.

By motive, the largest drop in suicides was seen over economic and lifestyle problems like heavy debt or poor business performances, at 583. The Cabinet Office speculates that "Economic recovery may have been a large reason (for the drop)."

Meanwhile, there were 38 suicides in 2013 judged by police to have been related to the Great East Japan Earthquake, 14 more than in the previous year.

In fiscal 2009, the national government set up prefectural funds to combat suicide. By fiscal 2012, 11.84 billion yen from the funds had been applied to suicide-prevention activities by municipal governments and private organizations. A Cabinet Office official said, "There has been some effect" from the funds.

Of the suicides in 2013, 68.9 percent were male. Around 60 percent were unemployed, which did not include students. By age, people in their 60s were the most common, at 17.3 percent. Next were people in their 40s, at 16.8 percent, in their 50s at 16.4 percent and in their 70s at 13.9 percent. For 2012, all age groups showed a decline in the number of suicides, but for 2013 an increase was seen for those aged 70 and over.

Police could determine motives from wills and other sources for 20,256 suicides. Using a maximum of three motives per suicide as a basis, the most common motive was health issues, at 13,680 suicides, a 0.4 percent increase from 2012; followed by economic or lifestyle issues, at 4,636 suicides, a 11.2 percent drop; family issues at 3,930 suicides, a 3.9 percent decline; work issues like problems with colleagues at 2,323, a 6 percent fall; male-female relations at 912, a 11.9 percent drop; and school issues including bullying or poor grades at 375, a 10.1 percent decline.

Regarding the most common motive, health issues, the largest increase in suicides was seen for people suffering from schizophrenia, with an increase of 115 suicides, or 10 percent. For economic and lifestyle issues, the largest fall was for people with heavy debt, at a decrease of 151 suicides, or 17 percent. In particular, the declines were large for people in their 40s and 60s. For people in their 20s, the largest drop was among those who failed to find employment, at 45 people, or 30 percent.

While 2013 saw a jump in quake-related suicides, 2012 had seen a halving of such suicides from the 55 in 2011, which was only for the latter half of that year. The most common motive in these quake-related suicides was health problems, at 22 deaths. Fukushima Prefecture had 23 disaster-related suicides, a jump of 10 from 2012.

March 13, 2014(Mainichi Japan)

Suicides tied to 2011 disaster rise in 2013, worsen in Fukushima

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140313p2g00m0dm069000c.html 

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Police linked 37 suicides in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures in 2013 to the March 2011 disaster, up 13 from a year earlier, with the tally rising progressively each year in Fukushima, the National Police Agency said Thursday.

The results of the three prefectures hardest hit by the quake and tsunami, with the nuclear crisis compounding the situation in Fukushima, were part of the nationwide suicide tally of 27,283, down 2.1 percent, the fourth straight year of decline, according to the agency.

"The impact of the nuclear accident is prolonging people's stay in evacuated locations, and this could have affected" the Fukushima figure, an official at the Cabinet Office said.

Fukushima, which hosts the crippled nuclear power plant, saw the number increase by 10 to 23. Iwate marked four suicides, down four from a year earlier, while Miyagi had ten deaths, up seven.

A suicide's link to the disaster is determined by such factors as the existence of a suicide note and statements by kin, according to the police.

Bodies found at evacuation shelters and temporary housing and the deaths of residents at such facilities are counted as possible disaster-tied cases. Residents in disaster areas as well as people engaged in restoration work in such areas may also be included.

Of the 23 deaths in Fukushima, 16 people were among people who evacuated to other locations from their homes, up by five. This contrasts with four such people in Iwate, up by one. Miyagi recorded no suicides among those who relocated after the disaster.

Yasuyuki Shimizu, of the Life Link support center working to curb suicides, drew attention to the rise in Fukushima and called for increased measures.

"Many people may be feeling stressed for not knowing when they can go back to their homes, being unable to find transport or feeling isolated from people around them," he said.

Health was cited as a cause in 22 suicides, the most. Finance and daily life were associated with nine cases. Problems with work and family were mentioned in five each.

By age bracket, 12 suicides were of people in their 50s, the largest group, up by seven. Seven were in their 80s or older, up by four.

The nationwide sum stayed below 30,000 for the second year in a row at 27,283 suicides. Those attributed to finance and daily life issues dropped 11.2 percent. The Cabinet Office official said, "An economic recovery may have had an impact."

The welfare ministry also releases suicide data as part of population statistics pertaining to Japan. Figures may differ from the police agency's suicide data that also covers foreign nationals.

March 13, 2014(Mainichi Japan)