Japan to subsidize community efforts to prevent child suicides

The Children and Families Agency plans to subsidize community efforts to prevent child suicides in fiscal 2027, which starts in April next year.

The agency will provide subsidies when local governments partner with child-related organizations to establish councils aimed at strengthening efforts to watch over children and sharing information. It asked for ¥1.04 billion in related expenses in its fiscal 2027 budget request.

The move comes at a time when the number of suicides among elementary, junior high and high school students marked a record high of 538 in 2025.

The subsidies will be used mainly for costs related to setting up such councils and notifying local residents about the matter. They will also cover the cost of coordinating with experts who can advise children with histories of self-harm and other challenges.

Hitoshi Kikawada, minister for children’s policies, said during a visit to a nonprofit organization in Tokyo tackling suicide that the number of child suicides this year is on track to exceed the 2025 tally, adding, “We must take measures at any cost.”

The annual number of suicides among elementary, junior high and high school students surged in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained above 500 since then.

The revised basic law on suicide prevention, which went into effect in April, stipulates that local governments can form councils in partnerships with schools, child consultation centers, medical institutions and other organizations.

Model projects are being carried out in Tokyo and Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture, to provide help by sharing information on children taken to the hospital after suicide attempts and enhancing monitoring of those with a history of such attempts. The agency aims to expand the initiative across the country.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, resources are available. In case of an emergency in Japan, please call 119 for immediate assistance. The TELL Lifeline is available for those who need free and anonymous counseling at 0800-300-8355. For those in other countries, visit International Suicide Hotlines for a detailed list of resources and assistance.