Suicides among Japanese women rise during COVID-19 pandemic

The suicidal trend among women in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic has escalated, with over 7,000 women taking their lives last year.

According to Health Ministry data released on Tuesday, 7,068 women committed suicide in 2021, marking the second consecutive year that the number of women suicide cases increased.

However, the overall number of suicides in the country saw a slight decrease by 74.

“The effect of the coronavirus pandemic appears to manifest in various ways,” an unnamed Health Ministry official told Kyodo News.

The coronavirus outbreak hit the world in December 2019, which negatively affected daily life and severely battered livelihood as governments-imposed lockdowns to halt the spread of the deadly infection.

Overall, 21,007 people ended their lives in Japan, 838 higher than the number of suicides recorded in 2019.

The country of over 126 million people is also grappling with an ageing population, accounting for 28.5% of its total population.

The Health Ministry said reasons for women's suicides “were the most common,” including family problems such as “marital discord and pessimism about the family's future.”

“Those citing problems related to economic and life issues increased 29 to 454, with 185 women killing themselves over difficulties making a living,” data showed.

“Among students, 11 elementary school, 148 junior high school and 314 high school students committed suicide in 2021, citing such reasons as mental illness including depression, poor academic performance and discord in relationships with their parents,” the report added.