In 2020, for the first time in 11 years, Japan reports a higher suicide rate unlike any country in the world.
The COVID pandemic is affecting young women in particular.
Professor Michiko Ueda is one of leading experts on suicide in Japan. She says “This pattern of female suicides is very, very unusual. The industries hit due to pandemic most are industries staffed by women, such as tourism and retail and the food industries.”
Japan has seen a large rise in single women living alone. Many of them are choosing living alone over marriage because the marriage entails quite traditional gender roles still in this developed country.
Japan is now in a third wave of coronavirus infections and the government has ordered a second state of emergency.
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
National Institute of Mental Health 1926
Sri Lanka Sumithrayo 011 2696666
CCC line 1333