45% of young people in Japan have suicidal thoughts, survey finds
May 5, 2023, 8:02 am

45% of young people in Japan have suicidal thoughts, survey finds

Japan-Tokyo-Crowd/Pixabay

Almost half of Japan's young population have experienced suicidal thoughts, a survey has revealed.

The country, which saw its population shrink by 556,000 in 2022 from a year earlier to 124.9 million, is witnessing at least "one in two young people" having suicidal thoughts, the survey conducted by Tokyo-based Nippon Foundation found.

According to Japan's Health Ministry, suicide has been the leading cause of death among young people in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Japan set to scrap remarriage restrictions on pregnant women

Japan bans export of chemical weapons goods to Russia

"Of 14,555 people aged 18 to 29 surveyed …, 44.8% had experienced suicidal ideation in the face of troubles such as difficult relationships with people close to them, bullying and worry about future educational or career paths," the survey details published by Kyodo News on Thursday revealed.

Around 40% of the 44.8% young people "had attempted suicide or taken some steps toward preparing to kill themselves."

"Trauma, such as from sexual abuse and bullying, played a great role, and when compounded, increased the likelihood of such thoughts," the survey found.

Amid the disturbing trend of increasing suicidal thoughts among its young people, Japan has posted a record fall of over 0.5 million in its already dwindling population in 2022, marking a 12th straight year of decrease.

Meanwhile, government data released on Thursday showed Japan's child population aged 14 and younger "fell for the 42nd consecutive year to hit a new record low ... to 14.35 million as of April 1, down by around 300,000 from a year earlier." This age group includes foreigners.

The country's overall population shrank by 556,000 in 2022 from a year earlier to 124.9 million, as the number of Japanese nationals saw its largest drop on record, government data released last month showed.

As of Oct. 1, the population, including foreign residents, stood at 124,9 million, with the number of Japanese nationals down 750,000 to 122 million, the largest margin of decline since comparable data were made available in 1950.

The alarming trend suggests an immediate need for Tokyo to establish a social system to cope with the dual challenge of a declining birthrate and an aging population.

All of Japan's 47 provinces except Tokyo logged a drop in the number of residents in the year to October last year, according to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry.

Source: aa

Bob Marley- all you need to do: give a little more. Stepping back in time to recall his legacy Biden’s top national security officials plan separate visits to Saudi Arabia

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”