Perilous
Times
Suicide rates are increasing in Japanese regions most
effected by the tsunami and nuclear disasters
* Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia Editor
* From: The Times
* June 17, 2011 10:30AM
THE Japanese Government has warned of an epidemic of depression
and suicide as a result of mental trauma caused by the earthquake,
tsunami and ongoing nuclear disaster.
The country already has one of the highest suicide rates in the
world, but new figures show that the number of deaths has risen
almost a fifth compared with a year ago. In Miyagi, the region
worst hit by the March 11 tsunami, the figures are especially
alarming, with suicides up 39 per cent.
A government report is now warning that the stoicism of many
victims in the early weeks of the disaster may mask post-traumatic
stress disorder. This week a dairy farmer from the town of Soma,
in the Fukushima region - near the crippled nuclear plant - was
found to have hanged himself after being forced to sell his herd
because of a ban on the sale of milk from the area.
"It is a characteristic of the Great East Japan Earthquake that,
as well as stress caused by large and sudden changes to daily life
and the traumatic experience of the earthquake and tsunami, there
are feelings of grief and loss resulting from the huge number of
people missing and killed," the Government said in the report.
"As well as grief, survivors also experience guilt because,
although they tried to escape together, only some were saved. Then
there is the shock of identifying bodies, for aid workers as well
as victims, resulting in chronic depression or prolonged grief
disorder."
The observations appear to be reflected in the new figures, which
show an 18 per cent national increase in suicides. In May, 3,281
people killed themselves, 499 more than the same month in 2010.
Suicides in Tokyo were up 27 per cent.
"Looking at the calm behaviour of many of the victims, we might
assume that post-traumatic stress disorder caused by their
experiences might be less than overseas," the report said.
"However, until we receive more detailed information, we cannot
reach a simple conclusion."
Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, after
Lithuania, several other former Soviet states and South Korea. In
2010, 31,690 people killed themselves in the country, the 13th
consecutive year above 30,000.
Suicide rates are closely tied to national trauma. Numbers
increased from around 25,000 to more than 30,000 a year in the
late 1990s, at a time of widespread bankruptcies and lay-offs
caused by the collapse of the so-called "bubble economy". The
number has always corresponded to unemployment rates - both peaked
in 2003, for example.
May is usually one of the worst months because of the low spirits
at the beginning of the new corporate year - a condition known as
gogatsubyo, or "May-itis".
Yoshiharu Kin, of the National Centre for Mental Health, said:
"Many people recover within six months, but 10 to 20 per cent
suffer from chronic conditions. Mental care after the disaster
needs to work over several months and several years.