Japan sees record number of workers’ compensation approvals for mental health in fiscal 2025

Members of the government's council to discuss measures to prevent deaths from overwork meet at the health ministry in June. | JIJI

Oct 9, 2026

Japan saw a record number of workers’ compensation approvals for mental health disorders in fiscal 2025, according to health ministry data released Friday.

The figure, published in this year’s white paper on measures to prevent karōshi, or death from overwork, marked a record high for the seventh consecutive year. The report is compiled under legislation enacted in 2014 to prevent deaths, suicides and illnesses caused by excessive workloads and work-related psychological stress.

A total of 4,958 workers filed compensation claims for mental disorders during fiscal 2025, up 1,178 from the previous year and more than three times the figure from a decade earlier. Of those, 1,082 cases were approved for compensation, up 26 from the previous year. Among approved cases, 76 involved suicide or attempted suicide.

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