Suicide epidemic: Japanese kill themselves more effectively than coronavirus

It is well known that Japan has always been famous for a large number of suicides. But in 2020, the number of voluntarily deceased citizens of the country simply breaks all records. If worldwide deaths are increasing due to the coronavirus, there are more suicides in the Land of the Rising Sun than there are deaths from the deadly infection.

As of November 30, 2020, a total of 2,106 people have died in Japan from complications caused by COVID-19. And 2153 people committed suicide only in October! The increase in the number of suicides was noted at the end of winter, and in March, a special hotline began operating in the country for those who found themselves in a difficult life situation.

The Japanese, who are secretive in everyday life, are nevertheless ready to communicate with the volunteers by phone. The helpline receives up to 200 calls a day. The majority of those who have applied for support are women who have found themselves in a difficult situation.

Someone lost their job and does not know what to feed their children, someone becomes a victim of domestic violence during self-isolation, and someone broke up with a loved one. Teenagers who have not managed to adapt to the distance learning mode are also looking for support by phone.

Volunteers working on the hotline have to deal with terrible life stories on a regular basis. Someone calls because of the fact that he was a victim of violence by his own father, someone tried to kill her husband, and there are those who are thinking about killing themselves. Many Japanese women admit that they are thinking about killing themselves, and some are also ready to kill their children.

In 2020, due to the pandemic, the situation with suicides in the country is simply catastrophic. The number of female suicides increased by 83 percent, and male suicides-by 22 percent, compared to last year, 2019. Experts say that the number of desperate representatives of the fair sex has increased due to the fact that the quarantine has most affected the industries where women are mainly involved: retail, catering, and hotel business.