June 25, 2026
TOKYO – With the number of suicides among school-aged children reaching an all-time high, the government is stepping up its efforts to address the issue.
The Yomiuri Shimbun has obtained a draft of the government’s priority plan, which is set to be revised shortly, aimed at addressing loneliness and social isolation.
“We need to have a greater sense of urgency than ever before,” the draft states, calling for strengthening efforts to assess the actual circumstances of children who are becoming increasingly isolated.
According to the draft, the number of suicides among elementary, junior high and high school students last year reached a record high of 538, an increase of 9 from the previous year.
The draft states that the plan aims to “identify children and young people at high risk of suicide before the crisis deepens and ensure they receive support.”
As a specific measure, the government plans to expand the annual nationwide survey on loneliness and isolation, which is currently conducted with people aged 16 and older, to include elementary and junior high school students.
The draft also highlights the growing trend of using generative artificial intelligence as a source of advice and examines how to establish a comprehensive support system.
It points out that “generative AI has become deeply embedded in the daily lives of the public, including children, and is increasingly being used as the first step in seeking advice.”
In light of this, the draft outlined a policy to explore measures to address generative AI while closely monitoring developments in related discussions.
A key challenge will likely be how to effectively guide AI users to the appropriate support services.
The priority plan, formulated in 2024, is based on the law on the advancement of measures to address loneliness and isolation.