Suicide and unemployment in Japan: Evidence from municipal level suicide rates and age-specific suicide rates

Most previous studies on the relationship between unemployment and suicide use either individual level data or large unit aggregate level data. The former typically fail to distinguish the observed association from the causal link, and the latter often produce inconsistent findings on the unemployment-suicide relationship, making it difficult to draw policy implications. The present study contributes to this line of research by using two semi-aggregate level data in Japan. The results show that unemployment is significantly associated with male suicide rates, especially those of prime age working men, while the results are not straightforward for female suicide rates.

Research highlights▶ The municipal level analysis confirms that unemployment increases male suicide rates. ▶ Unemployment mainly affects suicide rates of prime age working men. ▶ The results for female suicide rates are mixed and not straightforward.