For years, Japan’s suicide rate among adults has been dropping. And that trend, fortunately, continues. Unfortunately, suicide rates for kids are higher than they’ve ever been, leaving authorities struggling to find solutions.
The total number of suicides in Japan last year was 22,680, according to FNN Prime Online. That’s a drop of 1,569 and represents the second-lowest overall suicide rate since Japan started keeping statistics in 1978. The number includes 13,763 men and 6,505 women.
However, the number of elementary, middle, and high school-age kids who committed suicide rose to a record high of 527 – an increase of 14 over last year and the highest since 1980. That number is comprised of 15 elementary school kids, 163 middle schoolers, and 349 high schoolers.
Motivations leading to suicide for those under 19 years old include school problems and uncertainty about one’s course in life, mental health struggles, and family problems.
The NPO Daisan no Kazoku, interviewed by NHK News, says their anonymous message board for kids receives around 5,000 posts per month. Most posters say they struggle with feeling rejected or hurt by their parents or having their parents’ worldview pushed on them. Others say their parents don’t understand their struggles with gender identity or mental illness.
Okamura Haruka, who heads Daisan no Kazoku, said that while some kids end up calling a helpline or local consultation center, some don’t want to talk to adults about their issues.
“We need to increase distanced strategies for kids who can’t consult someone,” she said.
Moriyama Karin from the Nanzan University Institute for Social Ethics says things have gotten worse since students have returned to school after the pandemic. At the same time, as adults contend with rising prices and other pressing life issues, she says, society has less “leeway” for noticing when kids are in trouble. She says it’s more important than ever to help kids develop “safety nets” of friends – “even weak connections with others” – on whom they can rely.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, please reach out for help. Those in Japan you can call the following numbers:
0570-064-556 for kokoro-no-kenkou-soudan (こころの健康相談) operated by prefectorial and city organizations
0570-783-556 for inochi-no-denwa (いのちの電話) operated by Federation of Inochi No Denwa.
For English language help in Japan, reach out to TELL.
If you are in the US call 911 for emergencies and 988 for the suicide hotline.
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