Japan to subsidize community efforts to prevent child suicides

The Children and Families Agency in Japan plans to provide financial support for community initiatives aimed at preventing child suicides starting in fiscal 2027. This fiscal year begins in April. The agency will offer subsidies when local governments collaborate with child-focused organizations to create councils focused on enhancing child supervision and information sharing.

The agency requested ¥1.04 billion for related expenses in its budget request for the upcoming fiscal year. This comes as the number of suicides among elementary, junior high, and high school students hit a record high of 538 in 2025. The subsidies will primarily cover costs related to establishing these councils, informing local residents, and coordinating with experts who can advise children with histories of self-harm and other challenges.

The agency's minister for children's policies, Hitoshi Kikawada, stated during a visit to a nonprofit organization in Tokyo that the number of child suicides this year is expected to surpass the 2025 figure, emphasizing the urgency of taking action. The annual number of suicides among students aged 6 to 18 has been rising since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020 and has stayed above 500 ever since.

A revised basic law on suicide prevention, which took effect in April, allows local governments to form these councils in partnership with schools, child consultation centers, medical institutions, and other relevant organizations. Pilot projects have been implemented in Tokyo and Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture, to share information on hospital admissions of children after suicide attempts and improve monitoring of those with a history of such attempts.

The agency aims to expand this initiative nationwide. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, resources are available. In case of an emergency in Japan, call 119 for immediate assistance. The TELL Lifeline provides free and anonymous counseling at 0800-300-8355. For those in other countries, a comprehensive list of resources and assistance can be found at International Suicide Hotlines.