%0 Journal Article
%T Excess mortality by suicide caused by COVID-19 in Japan
%J Journal of disaster research
%D 2022
%A Kurita, Junko
%A Sugawara, Tamie
%A Ohkusa, Yasushi
%V 17
%N 1
%P 51-56
%X BACKGROUND: Countermeasures against COVID-19 outbreak, such as lockdowns and voluntary restrictions against going out, adversely affect human stress and depress economic activity. Particularly, this stress might lead to suicide. Object: We examined excess mortality attributable to COVID-19 related suicide. <br><br>METHOD: We applied the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) model to suicide deaths, by gender, throughout Japan during October 2009-January 2021. Effects of the great earthquake that struck eastern Japan on March 11, 2011 were incorporated into the estimation model. <br><br>RESULTS: Significant excess mortality from suicide was found during July-January for both genders. Its frequency was higher among females than among males. In total, 2276 cases of excess mortality were identified. <br><br>DISCUSSION and Conclusion: Excess mortality during the four months was more than twice that of COVID-19 deaths confirmed by PCR testing. Countermeasures against COVID-19 should be chosen carefully in light of suicide effects.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Fuji Technology Press
%@ 1881-2473
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.20965/jdr.2022.p0051