Department of Health Risk Communication, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Crisis. 2020 Nov;41(6):475-482. doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000679. Epub 2020 Mar 6.
Suicide is a major concern after the 2011 earthquake and nuclear accident in Fukushima. This study delineates characteristics of the disaster-related suicides in Fukushima. Data provided by the Fukushima Prefectural Police and data published by the Fukushima or Japanese Government were analyzed. Numbers of disaster-related suicides and evacuees were compared among the three prefectures affected. Age, sex, occupation, and means for disaster-related suicides in Fukushima were compared with overall suicides in Fukushima or Japan. History of medical treatment, changes in job and family structure after the disaster, and signs of contemplation were examined within the disaster-related suicides of Fukushima. While other prefectures have experienced a drop in disaster-related suicides, Fukushima has not. Age-standardized disaster-related suicide rates were remarkably higher in men than in women. Moreover, disaster-related suicide rates in Fukushima were higher in women in their 50s and 80s as compared with overall suicide rates in Fukushima or Japan. No detailed comparisons were made between disaster-related and non-disaster-related suicides. Disaster-related suicide rates were higher in men than in women. Also, it was found that the disaster-related suicide rates of elderly women were higher compared with overall suicide rates in Japan and Fukushima. In addition, many who died by suicide showed signs of contemplation before the attempt and had started psychiatric treatment. Improvement of suicide risk assessment skills for mental health professionals and gatekeeper training among residents will be essential to prevent disaster-related suicides.
福岛核事故后自杀问题突出。本研究描述了福岛核灾难相关自杀的特点。分析了来自福岛县警方和福岛或日本政府公布的数据。比较了 3 个受灾县的灾难相关自杀人数和疏散人数。比较了福岛的灾难相关自杀与福岛或日本的总体自杀在年龄、性别、职业和自杀方式方面的差异。研究了福岛灾难相关自杀者的既往病史、灾难后工作和家庭结构的变化以及自杀意念迹象。尽管其他县的灾难相关自杀人数有所下降，但福岛县没有。标准化后的男性灾难相关自杀率明显高于女性。此外，与福岛或日本的总体自杀率相比，福岛县 50 多岁和 80 多岁女性的灾难相关自杀率更高。没有对灾难相关自杀和非灾难相关自杀进行详细比较。男性的灾难相关自杀率高于女性。此外，还发现老年女性的灾难相关自杀率高于日本和福岛的总体自杀率。此外，许多自杀者在尝试自杀前表现出自杀意念的迹象，并已开始接受精神科治疗。提高心理健康专业人员的自杀风险评估技能和对居民的看门人培训对于预防灾难相关自杀至关重要。
