Catharina Klein
Research expert covering Japan
Mental health in Japan - statistics & facts
The Japanese nation has one of the highest suicide rates among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Since the economic slump in the 1990s, multiple mental health-related social issues have emerged and highlighted the distinctive psychological features of Japanese society. Karoshi - deaths and suicides from overwork, hikikomori – people who lock themselves in at home to shut out social contacts, and long-term absentees at schools are the most frequently cited mental and social problems in recent years. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has further increased the focus on active mental health maintenance and mental wellness initiatives.
The support and treatment of citizens with mental health problems in Japan are coordinated under the Act on Mental Health and Welfare for the Mentally Disabled enacted in 1950. In October 2020, an estimated number of approximately five million people in the nation were receiving treatments for mental and behavioral disorders like schizophrenia and manic depression. For patients with lasting illnesses, the government issues a disability certificate and provides benefits such as aid for medical expenses and tax reduction. A cumulative total of almost 1.2 million certificates were issued as of 2020.
To improve health management in the workplace, the government acknowledges incorporated companies with outstanding physical and mental health management of employees every year, with nearly 14.6 thousand corporations qualified as “healthy management corporations” as of 2022. The government also requires all employers with 50 or more employees to conduct stress level assessments once each year. However, the survey in 2021 revealed that only around 65 percent of businesses complied.
In addition to psychiatrists engaged in psychiatric hospitals and other medical facilities, two types of licensed mental health counselors exist in the nation at present: clinical psychologists and public psychologists. A clinical psychologist license is certified by a private organization and was the only available license for mental health-related counselors for decades since its initiation in 1988. In 2018, the government announced the establishment of a national certification of public psychologists. Both clinical psychologists and public psychologists can currently work in the field of medicine, education, industries, social welfare, and jurisdiction. The distinction between the two types of psychologists is, however, not yet clearly specified. It remains to be seen if the recent changes to the infrastructure will convince the general public in Japan to make wider use of mental health counseling.
Working environment
Following the constant number of work-related illnesses and karoshi, the improvement of the working environment and conditions has been a persistent concern for Japan for many years. The Japanese government enacted the Work Style Reform Act in 2018 and set a limit to monthly overtime to 45 hours by amending the Labor Law. Despite that, over 16 percent of business establishments in Japan had employees who worked more than 45 hours of overtime in 2020. Close to three percent let their employees work more than 80 non-scheduled hours a month. As of 2020, around half of the surveyed employed people in Japan stated that they were severely anxious or stressed due to work.To improve health management in the workplace, the government acknowledges incorporated companies with outstanding physical and mental health management of employees every year, with nearly 14.6 thousand corporations qualified as “healthy management corporations” as of 2022. The government also requires all employers with 50 or more employees to conduct stress level assessments once each year. However, the survey in 2021 revealed that only around 65 percent of businesses complied.
Mental health professionals
Despite increasing awareness for mental health and its care in general, getting professional assistance for mental wellbeing is still not routine in Japan. People tend to visit medical facilities for mental health problems only when they recognize severe symptoms. This tendency is also reflected by the mental healthcare infrastructure.In addition to psychiatrists engaged in psychiatric hospitals and other medical facilities, two types of licensed mental health counselors exist in the nation at present: clinical psychologists and public psychologists. A clinical psychologist license is certified by a private organization and was the only available license for mental health-related counselors for decades since its initiation in 1988. In 2018, the government announced the establishment of a national certification of public psychologists. Both clinical psychologists and public psychologists can currently work in the field of medicine, education, industries, social welfare, and jurisdiction. The distinction between the two types of psychologists is, however, not yet clearly specified. It remains to be seen if the recent changes to the infrastructure will convince the general public in Japan to make wider use of mental health counseling.
