TOKYO, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The number of student suicides in Japan reached a record high of 529 last year, surpassing the previous peak of 514 in 2022, data from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare showed Friday.
The leading causes of suicide among elementary, junior high, and high school students included school-related issues such as academic struggles and concerns about future prospects (272 cases), mental health conditions like depression (164 cases), and family problems such as parent-child conflicts (108 cases), the data showed.
To address the rising trend, the Children and Families Agency plans to enhance counseling systems incorporating youth perspectives, and increase opportunities for communities to learn appropriate support methods for at-risk children.
While student suicides have increased, the overall number of suicides, including adults, declined by 1,517 from the previous year to 20,320, marking the second-lowest figure since records began in 1978. ■
