According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, a record of 4,810 claims for work-related physical and mental illnesses in fiscal 2024 for brain and heart diseases or mental illnesses caused by overwork and severe stress.

Of these, the ministry approved a record 1,304 cases for worker’s compensation.

Mental health-related cases accounted for 1,055, making it the first time that mental health cases exceeded 1,000.

The leading cause of such cases was power harassment by superiors.

The labor ministry said some workers are feeling psychological burdens due to changes in workplace relationships and environments.

It plans to immediately investigate the reason for rise in work-related mental illness cases.