Exploring Suicide in Japan: in the Light of Mental Illness and Socioeconomic Factors (SFC Discussion Paper 2010-004)

This statistical study explores socioeconomic determinants of suicide with aggregate-level panel data over 1975-2005 in 47 prefectures in Japan. Introducing a new proxy for mental illness & employing male & female age-adjusted suicide rates, this study attempts to avoid omitted variable bias. Controlling for period-specific, prefecture-specific characteristics, findings suggest high unemployment rates, serious mental illness, & insufficient livelihood protection are influential factors in high male suicide rates. High female rates are attributable to low household income & insufficient livelihood protection. The statistical findings are robust to the addition of control variables & also the the exclusion of each prefecture. Findings also suggest suicide prevention needs to be drafted according to gender. (53 refs.) JA