Suicide, mental health, and the pandemic in Japan

03/24/21 • 26 min

Dr. Yuko Kawanishi is a sociologist based in Tokyo, who specializes in mental health, gender relations, and contemporary Japanese social issues. When in 2020, nearly 7,000 women took their own lives and the country experienced one of the highest suicide rates in the world, Dr. Kawanishi took interest. She joins us to reflect on the professional expectations, the stoic culture, and the social shame that created a perfect storm of pressure on women during the pandemic. Dr. Kawanishi breaks down the gender equity dynamics in Japan at large, and makes a compelling case for every woman to connect with the mental health services they need.

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