Daily step counts were associated with suicide in all 47 prefectures of Japan

The link between suicide and daily step counts was evaluated in all 47 prefectures of Japan by ecological study. The crude rate of suicide was significantly and negatively correlated with daily step counts. However, the association between the age-adjusted rate of suicide and daily step counts was noted only in men. These results suggest that increasing daily step counts may be useful for preventing suicide, especially in men, in Japan.