Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

Schizophrenia & Disability in Japan

2.58 Million people in Japan suffer from mental disability

According to a new story out of Japan, "about 5 percent of the population (in Japan) suffer from one or more disabilities" of which about one third are mentally disabled. Though this information is focused on Japan, disability is an issue for many many modern countries and the ratios are likely similar in all developed nations.

The story discussed a reported 6.56 million people with disabilities. However, while attempting to gather the data, "it was difficult to determine how many people were disabled in one form or another. It placed disabilities in three categories--physical (3.52 million); intellectual (460,000), including Down syndrome; and mental (2.58 million), including schizophrenia and other illnesses.The report, based on surveys conducted from 2000 to 2002, is the first to come up with a percentage for disabled people."

Further, "according to a survey conducted in January,(...) 60 percent of respondents said they or someone in their immediate family were disabled, or they knew of disabled people in the neighborhood or at school."

Provided By The Daily Yomiuri: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/index-e.htm

To read the full story: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/index-e.htm