title: Suicide prevention strategies in Japan: a 15-year review (1998-2013).
abstract: Suicide is a global public health problem and solutions to it can be found only through a global dialog. The suicide rate in Japan has been alarming, but Japan has made substantial efforts to reduce this rate, making prevention a high priority. This report reviews the developmental stages of a comprehensive policy of suicide prevention in Japan from 1998 to 2013. Our review suggests that suicide prevention activities were facilitated by the 2006 Basic Act for Suicide Prevention and the 2007 General Principles of Suicide Prevention Policy. Along with the establishment of a Special Fund program for local governments, the Basic Act and General Principles led to the development of a comprehensive and multi-sector approach to suicide prevention. Suicide rates in Japan, especially among middle-aged men, decreased consistently after 2009, suggesting that the initiatives were effective. Continuous monitoring is needed to evaluate Japan's suicide prevention policy.
authors.affiliation: Center for Suicide Prevention, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeshima
authors.affiliation: Center for Suicide Prevention, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inagaki
authors.affiliation: Center for Suicide Prevention, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Manami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kodaka
authors.affiliation: Center for Suicide Prevention, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Center for Suicide Prevention, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Studies, University of Niigata Prefecture, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Yotaro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katsumata
authors.affiliation: Center for Suicide Prevention, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Maiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimori
authors.affiliation: Center for Suicide Prevention, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayaka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hisanaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Disaster Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshitomo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D057766:Policy; D011050:Policy Making; D064890:Social Determinants of Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention