Health Minister Akira Nagatsuma announced the figures during a meeting on resolving issues of suicide and depression, as reported by officials of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, according to The Japan Times.
Japan’s suicide rates are the highest in the world. In 2009 more than 32,000 people took their lives. Among them were 26,500 individuals between the ages of 15 and 69. If these individuals continued to work until retirement, the total income would have been close to 1.9 trillion yen, the ministry said, according to the Japan Times article.
The country also lost nearly 45.6 billion yen on worker compensation benefits for those who took time off due to depression.
Japan’s PM Naoto Kan regards the high numbers as an economic and emotional downturn for the country.
To counter the high rates of suicide and raise awareness about its impact, the Japanese government will launch a video campaign on Friday.
