Japan Compiles Statistics on Abuse by Psychiatric Hospital Workers for First Time

From The Fukushi Shimbun

January 28 2026

TOKYO – The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced on the 19th that in fiscal 2024 there were 6,258 reports and notifications received by prefectures and designated cities concerning alleged abuse of persons with disabilities by staff at psychiatric hospitals. Of these, 260 cases were officially recognized as abuse.

Under the revised Mental Health and Welfare Act enacted in 2022, reporting abuse of persons with disabilities by psychiatric hospital staff to prefectures and designated cities was made mandatory. This is the first time such data have been compiled. The ministry stated, “We have confirmed that the reporting system is being recognized. We will continue to closely monitor future trends.”

Of the 6,258 cases, 1,514 involved reports or consultations by people who discovered individuals with mental disabilities who were believed to have been abused, while 4,744 were reports or consultations filed by the persons with mental disabilities themselves who said they had been abused.

The number of abuse victims was 413, with men and women accounting for roughly equal shares. The most common types of abuse were physical abuse and psychological abuse.

By occupation, nurses accounted for the largest number of alleged abusers at 202, followed by licensed practical nurses at 58, nursing assistants at 54, and doctors at 14. As measures taken in response to abuse, authorities collected reports related to notifications in 258 cases, requested the submission of improvement plans in 189 cases, and ordered changes to submitted improvement plans in four cases.