Analysing regional unemployment rates, GDP per capita and financial support for regional suicide prevention programme on suicide mortality in Japan using governmental statistical data

Abstract

ObjectivesTo explore the mechanisms of reduced suicide mortality in Japan, which decreased from 25.7 to 16.5 per 100 000 people following the comprehensive suicide prevention programme from 2009 to 2018, the present study determined the relationship between regional suicide mortality, socioeconomic data (GDP per capita, unemployment rates) and financial support for regional suicide prevention programmes.Design and settingStepwise multiple regression analysis was used to determine the effects of regional GDP per capita, unemployment rates and implementation amount of financial support for regional suicide prevention programmes (Emergency Fund to Enhance Community-Based Suicide Countermeasures—EFECBSC) on age and gender disaggregated suicide mortalities in Japan between 2009 and 2018. Data on each prefecture’s complete unemployment rates, GDP per capita and implementation amount of EFECBSC sub-divisions were derived from an official Japanese governmental database.ResultsBoth prefectural enlightenment and intervention model programmes were found to lead to a decrease in male suicide mortality, but were less effective in reducing female suicide mortality. Municipal enlightenment and intervention model programmes were also less effective in reducing suicide mortality. Municipal development programmes for listener and leader led to a greater decrease in suicide mortality for both men and women compared with such programmes at the prefectural level. Contrary to our expectations, reduced complete unemployment rate only reduced suicide mortality in the older male population without affecting female suicide mortality.ConclusionThe study findings suggest an inverse relationship between financial support and suicide mortality in Japan. Furthermore, independent factors in the reduction of suicide mortality rates provide important information for planning evidence-based and cost-effective regional suicide prevention programmes.

Analysing the Impacts of Financial Support for Regional Suicide Prevention Programmes on Suicide Mortality Caused by Major Suicide Motives in Japan Using Statistical Government Data

“…Globally, suicide mortality has recorded an increase of more than 50% in the last half century, with the increase in suicide mortality being more pronounced in adolescents [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]. Similarly, suicide mortality in Japan suddenly rose to more than 30,000 deaths in 1998 (at its maximum, there were 40.1 deaths per 100,000 males in 2003), and this increase in Japanese suicide mortality persisted for more than a decade (until 2009) [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Japanese people had been demanding government legislation and financial support for the development of national comprehensive suicide prevention programmes [ 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

“…Similarly, suicide mortality in Japan suddenly rose to more than 30,000 deaths in 1998 (at its maximum, there were 40.1 deaths per 100,000 males in 2003), and this increase in Japanese suicide mortality persisted for more than a decade (until 2009) [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Japanese people had been demanding government legislation and financial support for the development of national comprehensive suicide prevention programmes [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. The Japanese government enacted the “Basic Act on Suicide Prevention” in 2006 and the “General Policies for Comprehensive Measures against Suicide” in 2007, but Japanese suicide mortality did not fluctuate for 3 years (until 2009) [ 7 , 8 ].…”

“…Japanese people had been demanding government legislation and financial support for the development of national comprehensive suicide prevention programmes [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. The Japanese government enacted the “Basic Act on Suicide Prevention” in 2006 and the “General Policies for Comprehensive Measures against Suicide” in 2007, but Japanese suicide mortality did not fluctuate for 3 years (until 2009) [ 7 , 8 ]. To respond to the Japanese public health crisis, the Cabinet Office began to contribute funds to prefectures and municipalities for the development of regional suicide prevention programmes, in the form of the “Emergency Fund to Enhance Community-Based Suicide Countermeasures” (EFECBSC), in 2009 [ 7 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

“…The Japanese government enacted the “Basic Act on Suicide Prevention” in 2006 and the “General Policies for Comprehensive Measures against Suicide” in 2007, but Japanese suicide mortality did not fluctuate for 3 years (until 2009) [ 7 , 8 ]. To respond to the Japanese public health crisis, the Cabinet Office began to contribute funds to prefectures and municipalities for the development of regional suicide prevention programmes, in the form of the “Emergency Fund to Enhance Community-Based Suicide Countermeasures” (EFECBSC), in 2009 [ 7 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Recent studies suggest that the EFECBSC played a fundamental role in the decline of the long-lasting high levels of suicide mortality in Japan [ 7 , 8 ].…”

“…To respond to the Japanese public health crisis, the Cabinet Office began to contribute funds to prefectures and municipalities for the development of regional suicide prevention programmes, in the form of the “Emergency Fund to Enhance Community-Based Suicide Countermeasures” (EFECBSC), in 2009 [ 7 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Recent studies suggest that the EFECBSC played a fundamental role in the decline of the long-lasting high levels of suicide mortality in Japan [ 7 , 8 ].…”