Another pandemic in Japan: in October, there were more suicides than deaths from the coronavirus

Japan recorded in October 2020 a number of deaths by suicide higher than those of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic, according to statistics from the Ministry of Health. Throughout the year, suicide claimed more than 17,000 lives across the Asian country.

According to Japanese National Police Agency, 2,153 people committed suicide in October: more than 2,087 coronavirus deaths in all 2020, according to ministry data. Japan has a record number of new cases since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with 2,688 infections in a single day, raising the alarms of the authorities.

The number of suicides is increasing month by month in Japan because more women and school-aged children have committed suicide, offering a first look at the consequences of mental health stress caused by Covid-19 around the world, the newspaper reported Japan Times.

Japan continues to keep women away from public service

Suicides declined at the start of the pandemic, when the state of emergency ordered by the government to curb the spread of the coronavirus forced people to move away from the stress of their work and their schools, and in parallel a collective solidarity emerged, like that inspired by wars and natural disasters.

But when the economy started to reopen, part of the Japanese population was struggling, such as more unemployed people or those who continued to be locked in their homes due to their age.

Schools reopened in June after a three-month closure, and saw an increase in reports of bullying and additional stress of catching up with the study. “Children feel even more pressure to catch up,” said Hiroyuki Nishino, director of an organization that helps children in difficulty.

“Public health and infectious disease prevention measures alone are not enough to save lives,” said Toshihiko Matsumoto, director of the drug dependence research department at the Japanese National Institute of Mental Health.

He stressed the need for spaces where people can be away from family pressure and at the same time avoid overcrowded conditions with risk of infection.

Jaones children present an even more complex picture as stressed parents under pressure from the pandemic“They may miss clues from their children and not be compassionate enough about their issues.”said Mayumi Hangai, a doctor at the National Center for Child Health and Development.

A US study published in May predicted that up to 75,000 more people could die in the next decade “deaths of desperation” as a result of the coronavirus crisis, a term that refers to suicides and drug-related deaths.

And the situation could worsen in the months to come, as Japan may have no choice but to declare a state of emergency if the national outbreak of Covid infections does not abate in three weeks. , according to Yasutoshi Nishimura, the cabinet minister. lead the country’s pandemic response.

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