The overall suicide rate in Japan is falling, to just over 20,000 last year, as a national prevention strategy bears fruit among the adult population. But for one sector of society – children and teenagers – it is a worsening problem, with the loss of 527 lives last year. That figure represents an all-time high among young people.
NHK World anchor Morishita Erika spoke with Okaku Terumi, CEO of grief support and suicide prevention organization Live on. Okaku was 19 when she lost her mother to suicide. She visits schools across Japan to discuss the importance of self-care and mental health.
Morishita Erika: You've gone to hundreds of schools to speak about suicide. What are you hearing from kids?
Okaku Terumi: What I hear from children is that bullying and exclusion on social media are very common. Meanwhile, traditional forms of bullying, such as visible violence, have decreased. Many children are also very concerned about how they are perceived by others.
In fact, some children have shared their thoughts after my lecture, saying things like "I learned that it's okay to have different opinions from my friends." They say they want to express their own opinions more, but they feel pressured to conform.
Morishita: A Ministry of Health survey cites several key stressors... such as academic struggles, career anxiety and family problems. But those issues have always existed. So why are suicides rising now?
Okaku: Teachers have said that, in the past, bullying only happened at school. But now it follows kids home because of social media. Pediatricians have reported a rise in self-harm and overdoses among children, with cases occurring even before the age of 10. The ability to access information on the internet is also having an impact.
Morishita: Are the teachers and schools equipped to deal with these problems?
Okaku: The national suicide prevention initiative for children focuses on encouraging them to reach out. However, since it began, child suicides have not decreased. In fact, they have gone up.
This suggests that while the message "It's okay to ask for help" may be getting across, the adults may not be able to respond to these cries for help.
Schools nationwide have slogans like "Be strong, be bright, be tough." I believe that adults who grew up with that kind of message may struggle to fully acknowledge or address young people's suffering.
The root issue is that adults themselves are also struggling. Japan's economic situation is likely a factor. There is also a teacher shortage. The number of educators applying for workers' compensation due to mental health issues is at an all-time high. Ultimately, children have nowhere to turn when they need to ask for help.
Morishita: It seems like such a complex problem -- how do you start to tackle it?
Okaku: It is important not to treat death and suicide as taboos. When we frame discussions solely around suicide, it may seem like an issue that only certain organizations can address. However, behind suicide lie deeper struggles, such as child poverty, being absent from school and sexuality.
In the UK, a coalition focused on the mental health of babies, children and young people has been established, with over 300 organizations participating. Rather than limiting the discussion to suicide itself, we need a broader, collaborative effort where organizations and stakeholders working with children come together to address these struggles.
Morishita: What are some concrete steps we can all take to address this?
Okaku: We need to tackle it without "over-medicalizing" the problem. There's this idea that mental health problems can be treated with just a pill. But that isn't always the case... and that approach can push young people away.
This also means creating a third space beyond schools and homes where children can express their pain, learn self-care and develop resilience to face their struggles. Public education should also play a significant role in fostering this approach.
Morishita: What message should we send to children in distress?
Okaku: When you feel like you want to run away from it all, know that it’s not strange or unusual. Anyone can experience that feeling. Showing vulnerability is not something to be ashamed of. I hope that both adults and children will come to embrace their weakness as it is.
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, there are resources in Japan. The Yorisoi Hotline is available in multiple languages, toll-free at 0120-279-338.
Please note this number is not accessible outside of Japan. For our overseas audience, please consider reaching out to similar services in your area.
For more, watch this video: NEWSLINE from January 30, 2025.
Watch video 5:28
