Resource Tag: JAPAN

Importance: The suicide mortality rate per 100 000 population (SMRP) consistently decreased before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Japan and then unexpectedly increased during the pandemic. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Objective: To identify trends in and factors associated with suicidal mortality and motives among students in Japan from 2007 to 2022. Design, Setting, […]

Background: The relationship between search terms and suicidal ideation is not precisely known. Aims: This study examined the relationship between the types of terms used in web searches and the level of suicidal ideation among individuals who conduct such searches. Methods: A total of 508 Internet users completed a suicidal ideation scale and conveyed to us the words […]

Suicide among school-age children is a serious issue in Japan, exacerbated by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Collaboration and cooperation between schools—where children spend much of their time—and medical/welfare services are indispensable. However, teachers are overworked, and intensified stress levels have led to high absenteeism. We propose the effective use of the Observe–Orient–Decide–Act (OODA) loop […]

Background: Social media platforms have been increasingly used to express suicidal thoughts, feelings, and acts, raising public concerns over time. A large body of literature has explored the suicide risks identified by people’s expressions on social media. However, there is not enough evidence to conclude that social media provides public surveillance for suicide without aligning suicide […]

Background: Social media platforms have been increasingly used to express suicidal thoughts, feelings, and acts, raising public concerns over time. A large body of literature has explored the suicide risks identified by people’s expressions on social media. However, there is not enough evidence to conclude that social media provides public surveillance for suicide without aligning […]

Background: Suicide is a major concern after the 2011 earthquake and nuclear accident in Fukushima. Aims: This study delineates characteristics of the disaster-related suicides in Fukushima. Method: Data provided by the Fukushima Prefectural Police and data published by the Fukushima or Japanese Government were analyzed. Numbers of disaster-related suicides and evacuees were compared among the three prefectures affected. Age, sex, […]

Objective Debt problems are associated with suicide. In Japan, the Money Lending Business (MLB) Act was revised in December 2006 and fully enforced in June 2010 to reduce multiple debt problems. This study aimed to examine the association between the full enforcement of the revised act and suicide rates. Methods An interrupted time series analysis […]

Background: Social media platforms have been increasingly used to express suicidal thoughts, feelings, and acts, raising public concerns over time. A large body of literature has explored the suicide risks identified by people’s expressions on social media. However, there is not enough evidence to conclude that social media provides public surveillance for suicide without aligning […]

Background In Japan, the number of suicides has increased since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic. However, only a few studies have examined the trends among individuals who attempted suicide. In this study, we examined the background characteristics and motives of individuals who attempted suicide and visited the emergency room because of suicide-related behavior before and after […]

Background: Suicide is one of the leading causes of mortality in both South Korea and Japan. Aims: The study aims to compare the descriptive epidemiology of suicide over the last two decades (1985-2006) and to explore the conditions associated with the different distribution of suicides in both countries. Methods: Age-standardized suicide rates were obtained from the OECD Health […]

Background: People who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) were expected to have additional levels of psychological burden resulting from the stressful conditions imposed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; consequently, suicide rates may increase. Aim: We aimed to carry out continuous monitoring of suicide rates in the affected area following the GEJE under COVID-19 pandemic […]

The present study explored the relationship between video/online game playing and suicide risk among Japanese young adults using the interpersonal–psychological theory of suicide. A sample of 310 players aged 20–39 years was recruited through an Internet research company. Each participant completed a questionnaire containing items that measured time spent on games, game addiction (GA), game categories, […]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, various measures have been implemented to prevent the spread of infection, including restrictions on human mobility. A dynamic fluctuation in the number of suicides has been observed during this period. The question is whether the increase/decrease in suicides during the pandemic is related to changes in human mobility. To […]

Background: Many countries with high suicide rates may also experience heavy yearly snowfalls. We speculated that Japan’s prefectures that have high suicide rates may be in regions with heavy snowfall. Although many suicide-related factors have been studied, few investigations have examined the effects of snow on suicide. Objective: We investigated regions of Japan along the […]

Objectives Long working hours in Japan is a social concern. This is also true for the working hours of physicians, who often do side work in addition to working at their main hospital. New physician work regulations to be implemented in Japan require work-hour management, including side work. This study examined the association between physicians’ […]

Importance  Peripartum suicide attempt is a major psychiatric complication associated with pregnancy, but the risk factors remain largely uncertain. Objective  To identify the demographic characteristics and predisposing risks for peripartum suicide attempts and postpartum depression. Design, Setting, and Participants  This cohort study used retrospective data on pregnant women who delivered children between April 1, 2016, and March 31, […]

Suicides by university students in Japan have increased with the onset of the COVID- 19 pandemic. Changes in the suicidality of clients in student counseling centers are unknown. We compared OQ 45.2, suicidal risk, and suicidality before and after the pandemic, testing 1801 clients at the Student Counseling Center of University A in Japan. The […]

Objective In recent years, rural areas have reported higher suicide rates than urban areas worldwide. Although agricultural activity is a key characteristic of many rural areas, rurality may also have heterogeneous qualities based on the type of agriculture pursued. However, to date, no study has examined potential linkages between suicide rate and types of agriculture. […]

Aim Self-harm is a common ambulance call and is potentially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the incidence of ambulance transport due to self-harm increased in 2020. Methods We undertook a population-based observational study using a database from the Osaka prefectural government. Ambulance transport of patients due […]

There is increasing concern that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic could harm psychological health and exacerbate suicide risk. Here, based on month-level records of suicides covering the entire Japanese population in 1,848 administrative units, we assessed whether suicide mortality changed during the pandemic. Using difference-in-difference estimation, we found that monthly suicide rates declined by […]

Existing evidence suggests that suicide stigma and suicide literacy may influence outcomes for people experiencing suicidal thoughts. The current study investigated suicide stigma and suicide literacy in a Japanese community sample (N ​= ​217), with comparison to published data and evaluation of correlates of suicide stigma and literacy. Japanese participants had significantly higher levels of suicide stigma […]

The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of assertive case management intervention in preventing suicidal behaviour in self-poisoning patients. We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the ACTION-J study. Participants were self-poisoning patients with clear suicide intent admitted to emergency departments and with a primary psychiatric diagnosis (as per DSM-IV-TR axis […]

The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of assertive case management intervention in preventing suicidal behaviour in self-poisoning patients. We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the ACTION-J study. Participants were self-poisoning patients with clear suicide intent admitted to emergency departments and with a primary psychiatric diagnosis (as per DSM-IV-TR axis […]