Excess Mortality by Suicide Caused by COVID-19 in Japan

Abstract

Background: Countermeasures against COVID-19 outbreak, such as lockdowns and voluntary restric-tions 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. Method: We applied the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) model to suicide deaths, by gen-der, throughout Japan during October 2009–January 2021. Effects of the great earthquake that struck east-ern Japan on March 11, 2011 were incorporated into the estimation model. Results: Significant excess mortality from suicide was found during July–January for both genders. Its frequency was higher among fe-males than among males. In total, 2276 cases of excess mortality were identified. Discussion and Con-clusion: 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.