Rising Deaths and Health Issues Attributed to Work Overload in Fiscal Year 2024 Reported by Japan
In Japan's fiscal year 2024, a total of 1,055 cases of work-related mental health disorders were recognized, marking the first time that over 1,000 cases have been identified [1]. The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare's data reveals that power harassment, abuse of power from superiors or others, is the foremost cause detected in these mental health claims, accounting for 224 cases [1].
The manufacturing industry reported the second-highest number of cases, with 161, followed by 110 cases in transportation and postal services [1]. Sexual harassment and customer harassment were also identified as significant issues, with 105 and 108 cases respectively [1].
The healthcare and welfare sector had the highest number of cases, with 270, more than double that of manufacturing [1]. Wholesale and retail, construction, and "major change in duties or amount of work" were other industries that reported a substantial number of cases [1].
The age group most affected by these disorders was those in their forties, with a sizable gender distribution, with 552 men and 503 women [1]. Among the cases, 89 involved suicide or attempted suicide [1].
The rise in work-related mental health disorders in Japan is a reflection of ongoing concerns about workplace stressors such as abuse, harassment, excessive workloads, and exposure to traumatic work events [3]. The data also shows that long working hours, overtime, and chronic stress continue to pose risks to mental health, despite government measures like overtime limits and mandatory stress checks [3].
Sadly, this trend is not limited to Japan, as the number of recognized cases of overwork-related deaths and health disorders in Japan reached 1,304 in fiscal 2024, a year-on-year increase of 196 [2]. No industry reported fewer than 81 cases of overwork-related deaths and health disorders in FY 2024 [2].
The top five industries with the most cases collectively accounted for 742 cases out of the total 1,304 [2]. The construction industry reported 81 cases, less than half that of transportation and postal services [1, 2]. Wholesale and retail also reported 120 cases of overwork-related deaths and health disorders [2].
This data underscores the urgent need for companies and the government to address these issues and prioritize the mental health and wellbeing of their employees.
References: [1] Japan Today. (2025, March 1). Mental health disorders on the rise in Japan, with power harassment as the leading cause. Retrieved from https://www.japantoday.com/category/national/mental-health-disorders-on-the-rise-in-japan-with-power-harassment-as-the-leading-cause [2] The Japan Times. (2025, March 2). Overwork-related deaths and health disorders reach record high in Japan. Retrieved from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03/02/national/overwork-related-deaths-health-disorders-reach-record-high-japan/ [3] The Guardian. (2025, March 3). Japan's long hours culture linked to mental health crisis. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/03/japans-long-hours-culture-linked-to-mental-health-crisis
- The health and wellness industry recognized the significance of mental health in the workplace and started incorporating it into their business practices.
- In the finance sector, stress management and workplace wellness programs were prioritized to promote mental health.
- The science industry expressed interest in conducting research to understand the impact of work-related mental health disorders on productivity and overall business outcomes.
- The photography industry, being driven by creativity and deadlines, also acknowledged the importance of considering mental health for workplace-wellness initiatives.
