Overwork-related disorders in Japan: recent trends and development of a national policy to promote preventive measures.
Overwork-related disorders, such as cerebrovascular/cardiovascular diseases (CCVD) and mental disorders due to overwork, are a major occupational and public health issue worldwide, particularly in East Asian countries. This report discusses the recent trend of overwork-related disorders in Japan from the perspective of workers' compensated occupational diseases, as well as the development of a national policy for preventive measures against overwork-related disorders in Japan. Recently, the number of claimed and compensated cases of occupational mental disorders has increased substantially, particularly among young workers, as compared to those of occupational CCVD. In response to these situations and action from society, the Japanese Government passed the "Act on Promotion of Preventive Measures against Karoshi and Other Overwork-Related Health Disorders" in June 2014 to develop a national initiative towards the prevention of overwork-related disorders. Changes in the trend of overwork-related disorders in Japan under a legal foundation and an initiative by the central government should be closely monitored so that other countries can benefit from the experiences.
Research Center for Overwork-Related Disorders, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan.
Takashi
T
Yamauchi
Research Center for Overwork-Related Disorders, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan.
Toru
T
Yoshikawa
College of Education, Yokohama National University, Japan.
Masahiro
M
Takamoto
Research Center for Overwork-Related Disorders, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan.
Takeshi
T
Sasaki
Research Center for Overwork-Related Disorders, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan.
Shun
S
Matsumoto
Research Center for Overwork-Related Disorders, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan.
Kotaro
K
Kayashima
Kawasaki City Center for Mental Health and Welfare, Japan.
Tadashi
T
Takeshima
Research Center for Overwork-Related Disorders, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan.
Masaya
M
Takahashi
D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Cardiovascular diseases; Cerebrovascular diseases; Japan; Mental disorders; National strategies; Overwork; Work stress