Analysis
・Estimation of how many suicides have increased as a result of COVID-19
・The number of hypothetical suicides in the absence of the COVID-19 pandemic was calculated using the pre-COVID unemployment rate predictions and mathematical models of a private think tank.
・Past dates used in the calculation
・2021: Jul 20, Aug 10, Sep 7, Oct 5, Nov 6, and 2022: Feb 2, Mar 8, Apr 12
・https://COVID19outputjapan.github.io/JP/resources.html
Result 1
・Approximate 6,833 excess suicides from March 2020 to March 2022
・Of these, approx. 1,190 cases can be explained by the rising unemployment rate
・Many of the additional suicides due to the COVID-19 pandemic are younger generations
・Most in their 20s
・Females in 20s: approx. 955 people, Males in 20s: approx. 700 people
・Child suicides are also on the rise
・Females under the age of 20: approx. 250 people, Males under the age of 20: approx. 80 people
・Excess suicides among females under the age of 20 remains high after the autumn of 2020. Excess suicides among males under the age of 20 is low after the autumn of 2020.
・Suicides among the elderly are also increasing
・60 years old and over (total of males and females): approx. 1,630 people
Result 2
・Life expectancy lost due to additional suicides caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is as much as life expectancy lost due to COVID-19 infections
・Life expectancy lost due to additional suicides caused by the pandemic
・290,000 years
・Equivalent to life expectancy of 4,600 25-year-old women (average life expectancy of approx. 63 years)
・Life expectancy lost due to direct deaths caused by COVID-19 infections
・299,000 years
・Equivalent to life expectancy of 4,750 25-year-old women (average life expectancy of approx. 63 years)
Excess suicides due to the pandemic (Total: male and female)
Approximate 6,833 excess suicides from March 2020 to March 2022