Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Covid and suicide: Japan's rise a warning to the world?
In Japan, the number of people who took their own lives rose last year by 750, nearly four percent. It had been declining since 2009 when the world suffered a financial shock. While fewer males committed suicide last year, nearly 7,000, about 15% more women over the previous year, killed themselves Why?
Many women work in the tourism, retail, and restaurant industries whose businesses were badly hit by the coronavirus. And many of them are non-permanent, part-time workers, who are the first to be laid off. Also, nowadays, many women choose to live by themselves to avoid being house-wifed or unfairly-burdened. Indeed, traditional gender roles are still expected in Japan. So, Japanese women were more vulnerable last year financially and socially. Finally, there was a spike in women’s suicide in October especially among those who were in their 40s. It is presumed that the suicide of a famous then 40-year-old actress somehow affected the already vulnerable women of the same generation.
Though vaccinations have started in some countries, the pandemic is still spreading around the world and many businesses are struggling to survive. We may find similar reports from other countries soon.
Read the article and learn about the factors that could make people more vulnerable.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55837160
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