Danica Davidson
November 3, 2020 Content Warning: Mention of suicidal thoughts.
Being an actor isn’t all glitz and glamour. The Japan Actors Union, which has approximately 2,600 members, recently did a survey looking into the mental health of actors and voice actors in the country. Some of the results were concerning.
One of the survey questions was “Have you ever thought about wanting to die because of work?” About 30% of respondents said, “Yes.”
Other issues the survey covered were what caused actors anxiety. Harassment and work schedules were among the responses given.
At a symposium to discuss the results, a psychiatrist said that “entertainers are constantly judged on social media services, and have diet and sleep restrictions, so it is easy to become stressed, and they do not have anyone to talk to about their worries, which can lead to thoughts of suicide.”
Japan Actors Union said it’s interested in getting around services that will allow its members to have someone to talk to about their mental health.
Source: Anime News Network
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please know that there is help available. In America, you can call 1-800-273-8255. In Canada, you can call 1-833-456-4566. In Japan, you can call 03-5774-0992. For other countries, numbers and resources are available on this site.
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, and its sequel, Manga Art for Intermediates, with professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
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