Japan lags behind on children’s mental health as suicides rise, Unicef finds

Japan ranks top for physical health, but youth mental well-being remains a concern, with suicide rates among the highest in wealthy nations

Children in Japan continue to suffer poor mental health, with the country ranking 32nd among 43 developed and emerging nations due to high suicide rates and other factors, a Unicef report released on Wednesday showed.

The country improved from 37th in 2020 when the ranking was last published, although this time the suicide rate among Japanese youth was the fourth highest among wealthy states surveyed, worsening from 12th.

In contrast, Japan topped the list on physical health, unchanged from the previous corresponding report.

The report by the United Nations Children’s Fund analysed members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union under the categories of mental well-being, physical health, and academic and social skills.

Japan ranked 12th in academic and social skills, up from 27th, and 14th overall, up from 20th. The Netherlands topped the overall ranking, which excluded the United States and six other countries with insufficient mental health data.

There is little awareness that children have mental problems in JapanAya Abe, professor of social behavioural studies

“There is little awareness that children have mental problems in Japan, and government measures have been ineffective,” said Aya Abe, a social-behavioural studies professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University with expertise in poverty issues.

As for physical health, she said, “Obesity is at a low level, but there is the problem of underweight children.”

The report noted that the Covid-19 pandemic had significantly reduced children’s academic performance and mental and physical health in developed countries.

It called for each country to address issues affecting the well-being of children who are growing up in a modern world with epidemics, conflicts and climate change.

If you have suicidal thoughts or know someone who is experiencing them, help is available. In Hong Kong, you can dial 18111 for the government-run Mental Health Support Hotline. You can also call +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page.