Youth suicides in Japan top 500, govt. calls for support network

Oct 30 (NHK) - A Japanese government report shows the number of suicides by children and teens in Japan remains high at over 500 cases in 2023. The government is calling for a support network to prevent young people from feeling alienated.

The Cabinet approved the annual white paper on suicide prevention at a meeting on Tuesday.

The white paper says 21,837 people in Japan took their own lives last year, 44 less than the previous year. The report says the number of men who died by suicide increased for the second year in a row, while the number among women dropped for the first time in 4 years.

The number of people of high school-age and under who took their own lives was 513, about the same as the previous year, when the number hit an all-time high.

A detailed study of the reasons behind youth suicides since 2009 found that family issues constituted a large proportion for elementary school children. Problems related to school comprised a large percentage for junior high school students and high school boys. For high school girls, health issues held a high percentage.

The report adds that youth suicides increased in the late half of August and peaked on September 1.

Officials say the government will work with municipalities and private organizations to prevent troubled young people from feeling isolated.

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