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Child Suicides in Japan Hit Record Number as Overall Suicide Rate Drops
The number of suicides among school-age kids has hit an all-time high. Experts say that requires new strategies.
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…
