Suicide Rates Among Schoolchildren in Japan Remain High
The number of elementary to high school students who committed suicide in Japan in 2023 remained alarmingly high, with 513 deaths reported. This figure is nearly identical to the record high of 514 suicides recorded in the previous year.
The government's 2024 white paper for suicide prevention, adopted at a cabinet meeting, revealed that high school students accounted for the majority of these deaths (347), followed by junior high school students (153) and elementary school children (13).
While the overall suicide rate in Japan is declining, the number of suicides among school-aged children continues to rise. The white paper analyzed data from 2009 to 2021 to identify the causes and motives behind these tragic events.
Among elementary school children, the primary factor contributing to suicide was discipline and scolding from family members. For junior and senior high school boys, weak academic performance and anxieties about future career choices were significant contributing factors. Among female students, interpersonal problems, particularly with friends, were the most common reasons for suicide.
Interestingly, the white paper also noted a regional trend. In the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido and the Tohoku northeastern region, suicides among elementary to high school students began to rise two weeks earlier than in other parts of the country. This is likely due to the earlier end of summer vacation in these regions.
Despite the concerning trend among school-aged children, the overall number of suicides in Japan decreased in 2023. The total number of suicides fell by 44 to 21,837, and the suicide rate dropped to 17.6 per 100,000 people.
However, the number of suicides among women increased for the first time in four years, rising by 160 to 6,975. In contrast, suicides among men decreased by 116 to 14,862.
Health issues remained the leading cause of suicide, followed by economic and livelihood problems, and family issues.
In response to the alarming rise in suicides among children, the government implemented an emergency program in 2023 to strengthen suicide prevention measures. This program involves analyzing factors contributing to suicides and establishing suicide prevention teams composed of professionals from various fields.
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