Assignment 3-Research Paper - Risk factors for escalation of suicide cases in Japan during Covid-19

Every area of life has been affected by the Covid 19 epidemic in an extraordinary way. In Japan there has been a growing tendency of suicide. In the wake of the viral illness spreading globally, and to avoid infection, the governments have introduced lock down procedures such as social distance. This has generated concerns and consciously or unintentionally reduced the economic activity of residents. By observation of the escalating cases of infection, Covid-19 may not end very soon, which increases a raising concern in another field of public health: the pandemic may negatively affect people's mental health and because of the epidemic, the suicide cases might escalate. When Japanese statistics were studied to see if incidences of suicide in the Japanese altered throughout the pandemic, the results offered some intriguing insights, utilizing monthly Japanese suicide cases in 1848 administrative parts.

In the first five months beginning from February 2020, suicide rates have decreased by 14 percent every month (Ruiz Sanchez, 2021). This might be attributable to numerous causes such as state grants, online classes, and reduced working hours. However, the monthly suicide rates escalated by 16 percent higher during the next four months, whereby women made up 37 percent of the population, posing a public health concern requiring quick attention. Suicide is not grounded on one aspect. There is no one single element in suicide. Suicide prevention, especially among vulnerable people, is vital, which can be attained by comprehending the etiology of the escalating suicides within Japan. This study article aims to determine the possible risk variables in Japan during the Covid-19-19 pandemic for increasing suicide rates. This research paper seeks to determine the reasonable risk factors for escalated suicide rates within Japan during the pandemic. It purposes to confirm the function of nervousness or fear of the unspecified on the escalated self-annihilation cases, the function of solitude on escalated suicide cases owing to lockdown, and the influence of the financial disaster on elevated suicide rates in the people of Japan.

Nervousness or fear of the unspecified contributed a key part in escalating the Japanese suicide rate during Covid-19. Anxiety may be described as an individual’s intellectual, social, psychological and emotional disfunction owing to the unavoidable stress. Several researches can be examined to determine how anxiety can lead to an increase in the suicide rate. For example, Sher stated that uncertainty promotes fear. Individuals are struggling with this unpredictable deadly and infectious ailment. One study showed that fear is a very traumatic condition. In addition, fear instigating articles and news in social and mass media and social media news and articles increases anxiety. Undeniably, the media has been overloaded by the epidemic. In low-resilient individuals with mental problems or those with psychiatric conditions, fear, disorder and uncertainty can lead to suicidal impulses. In addition, a study conducted by Wakashima enrolled 450 Japanese volunteers to evaluate coping behaviors during the. The study results confirmed that concern and anxiety can impact the social conduct of a person. (Pilch et al., 2020)

Among the mental responses and the adapting aspects of individuals due to the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) epidemic, the ones experiencing decreased resistance from susceptibility had to utilize adapting activities to free the feelings. The result was reduced vulnerability resistance. In addition, the research by Lee assessed the aspects of maladjusted nervousness linked with the pandemic (Lee, 2020). Based on the perspectives of 775 people, they created a (Coronavirus Anxiety Scale). The results of the investigation indicated that the Covid-19 epidemic resulted in mental illness, distress and treatment. Most mental, relational and behavioral procedures are caused by clinically enormous upheaval and dread and anxiety associated with Covid-19. The results also have shown that Covid-19 anxiety has a good association with commendation of President Trump's reactions to the epidemic occurrence. The outcomes approve what the political or social experts refer to as conventional change aspect, whereby the empirical fear will generally encourage individuals to support political conventionalism and traditional management (Lee, 2020). Political management may therefore also be seen as a trigger for nervousness.

Besides, in a study by Sher, it describes how sleep irregularity is connected to tension, bed pattern and quality. The combination of stress and nervousness reduced the favorable results of social principal on sleep value (Sher, 2020). Sleep disruption is associated with sadness, anxiety, and suicide attempts. Sleep abnormalities are an independent hazard aspect in suicide trends, suicide attempts and suicide deaths. Proper sleep abnormalities therapy is critical and reduces mental illness symptoms and suicidality. These studies show that mass tragic events, especially those involving contagious illnesses, typically lead to a heightened sensation of fear and anxiety. This is known to affect the behavior and mental health of many people dramatically. The outcomes are troubling; not secluded. The researches about psychological consequences of worldwide disease epidemics have shown significant links between Covid-19 burden and confirmed symptoms of nervousness, stress, health-linked uneasiness and suicide. Uncertainty, continual encouragement of distress in media, political management support and loss of nap can escalate nervousness. It is therefore essential to control nervousness, particularly during the epidemic, because it can result to escalation of self-annihilation cases.

Lockdown loneliness was a key factor in raising the suicide cases in Japan during the pandemic. The continuing shock caused the loneliness epidemic. Solitude may be described as the sensation of being by yourself, whereas social isolation refers to the condition of an individual’s social environment and interactional aspects. Solitude and social seclusion are frequently associated with one another. Some studies can be evaluated to comprehend how loneliness might lead to an increase in suicide rates. For example, Stickley discussed that loneliness is linked to a reduced commitment regarding Covid-19 preventive measures. In April 2020 and May 2020 an online survey was carried out where 2000 individuals replied to questions on Covid-19 mental health, individual currency and preventative behavior. (Stickley et al., 2020)

The Three-Item Loneliness Scale has been utilized to examine loneliness. The three items examine an absence of accompaniment, sensing negligence and a feeling of separation from others. In this sample, solitude was a prevalent characteristic, with over 40% of individuals being confirmed lonely. The outcomes of this study were that young individuals had a lower level of income, and the ones whose income was much less compared to the previous year, had no jobs, they had ended it, and the ones who had signs of depression were lonelier. In addition, a study that examines loneliness’ nature and its influence on mental health during Covid-19 was carried out. Loneliness impacts mental health. Loneliness was related with sleep problems. Loneliness may also intensify depressive symptoms and bad self-assessed health, eyesight difficulties, and a seemingly unfavorable alteration in one's quality of life (Hailey et al., 2021). Also, a suicide risk study revealed that loneliness is both associated with suicide attempts and suicide deaths. Loneliness and depression are linked with decreasing thought procedures over an extended time__ the planned approach for the harmful welfare consequences of loneliness surrounding the physiological stress response. Extraordinary pressures responses result to health problems. Current behavioral changes, like smoking, alcohol intake, less physical labor, poor food choice, may be related to social isolation.

Sher also demonstrates how social insulation has an unfavorable influence on psychiatric and healthy individual's mental success. People with mental problems require additional socialization. Many persons with mental difficulties live alone and spend long periods in isolation (Sher, 2020). Loneliness can result to misery, and social seclusion involves a suicide aspect. Many studies demonstrate that social loneliness and internment are highly linked to suicidal trends and suicide attempts (Panchal et al., 2020). These findings were constant in many civilizations. Increased suicide rate was influenced by social containment. From these researches, loneliness is evidently connected to many physical and psychological consequences. The lock-down introduced to restrict the propagation of Covid-19 has prompted concerns about increased solitude and intellectual health. When individuals are separated, there is no general routine, which keeps the mind busy. Linked to sleep difficulties or continuous anxiety, together with socialization loss, leads to absence of human touch of association, leading to a permanent condition of sadness and void which increases the chance of suicide. (Munich et al., 2020)

During the Covid-19 epidemic, the financial crisis had a major part in raising Japan's suicide rate. A financial crisis is defined as a scenario in which large financial resources lose their nominal worth significantly. The Covid-19 epidemic created unparalleled health and economic problems. The value of the assets decreased dramatically after the onset of the epidemic. Market volatility contributed to the financial crisis worldwide. As the Covid-19 spread continues, some health authorities, such as the World Health Organization are introducing limitations and advising individuals to stay at home and maintain social distancing, to avoid contracting the virus. Although home-staying can reduce the disease transmission, the Covid-19 pandemic has a major effect on the worldwide economy. Some researchers have been revised in attempt to comprehend how a financial crisis may lead to a rise in the suicide rate. For example, Bazrafshan discussed that the longer the epidemic, the more important people will suffer considerable financial difficulties in their lifetime. (Lingeswaran, 2020)

Studies have shown that the number of suicides among individuals has grown throughout the economic crisis. For example, there was an upsurge in suicide cases during the economic crisis of 2008 and one of the causes was the financial difficulties. The number of jobless has risen in this financial crisis, and suicide cases have escalated in countries with higher unemployment. Similarly, another research shows ban increase in rates of suicide under financial turmoil. The major reason for this was widespread unemployment. Moreover, the results of the research indicated that people who were dismissed were more likely to try suicide by almost 10 times more.

All the researches show a connection of financial difficulties and suicide. The studies demonstrate that unanticipated financial pressure is crucial to comprehending the danger of suicide, which has important clinical and strategic consequences. From these researches it is clear that an increased suicide has been the result of the present pandemic and monetary stress, including escalated financial problems, unemployment and reduced income. It is extremely obvious that weak people choose suicide to escape away from the problems amid a financial crisis. National suicide counter-action programs, social aid establishments, and suicide prevention activities can be developed to prevent suicide when monetary instability is high. Besides the normal issues linked with psychological welfare and substance addiction, clinicians evaluating and supervising suicide tenders with patients during the Covid 19 epidemic should address financial considerations. Career retraining, career rehabilitation, and residential support might help improve the use of psychotropic medicines and psychoanalysis and link individuals to financial aid agencies. Health and societal assistance organizations should be involved in key preclusion, so that the individual comprehend how the monetary burden from the epidemic impacts mental well-being, before they get to the mental level of suicide. Increased suicide rates can occur if these attempts are not performed correctly and swiftly.

Generally, the rise of suicide in Japan is a significant issue for the government and healthcare practitioners throughout the world. Unbelievably confusing are the risks underlying the domination of suicide, and studies show that a pandemic may have a different effect on the suicide rate. Suicide may be influenced by several elements and this study article has confirmed the effect of anxiety, loneliness and economic strain as driving factors for suicide through an in-depth literature analysis. Maintaining social distance can impair social and family connections alongside dread, anxiety and fear caused by the danger of a pandemic, escalate loneliness, weariness and restricted access to medical care services that promote psychiatric disease and raise the trend in suicide. In order to prevent loneliness during the pandemic, it is important to take the precautions needed. It is important to understand the adaptive coping strategies of loneliness while keeping social distance to avoid the transmission of the pandemic. Suicide is notorious for financial insecurity and job losses. Economic difficulties induced by pandemics may afterwards raise the incidence of suicide. However, given the unpredictability and complexity of the current pandemic, suitable preventative action will be necessary in order to avoid and minimize the risk of suicide. To develop strong regulations politicians, medicine professionals and researchers require a reliable assessment of suicide occurrences during the pandemic.

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