Suicides in Japan fell for a tenth consecutive year in 2019 – reaching a record low – though this was not the case among young people, with experts saying more needs to be done to help. A total of 20,169 people took their own lives in the country in 2019, according to statistics released by the National Police Agency on Tuesday, a decrease of 617 on the previous year and the lowest figure since the police began compiling nationwide figures annually in 1978. Despite the decline in overall suicides, however, Japan still has a growing problem with young people taking their own lives. Throughout 2019, 659 Japanese aged 20 or under died by their own hand, an increase of 60 on the year before. Theirs was also the only age group to see an increase – although analysts suggest Japan is not alone in this trend. “Generally speaking, there is a relatively high number of juvenile suicides in most countries and that is something that has been blamed on young people going through a testing or difficult time in their lives and at a time when they are not sufficiently mature to handle a given situation,” said Yukio Saito, the former chair of the Japanese Association for Suicide Prevention. “Young people are often quite unstable in their relationships, they feel crises more deeply and quickly, but lack the experience of older people to overcome a crisis.” Bullying in school has long been a problem in Japan and is frequently cited among young people who leave suicide notes. Relationships among younger people are another potential flashpoint, said Saito, who also served as CEO of the Japanese Federation of Inochi-no-Denwa telephone counselling hotlines. It is kind of surprising that the situation is not actually worse Vicki Skorji, director of Tokyo-based TELL Lifeline counselling service As if to underline the problem, a day before the new suicide figures were released, a girl of 18 jumped to her death from an apartment building where she lived in Aichi Prefecture, northern Japan. The girl, who has not been named, is believed to have jumped from the 13th floor shortly before 10pm. Police told local media that both the girl’s parents and her high school had said they were not aware of her experiencing any problems such as being bullied, and no suicide note was found. The highest number of suicides recorded in Japan was 34,427 in 2003, after more than a decade’s worth of economic stagnation that had hit business owners particularly hard. Such alarming figures soon attracted the attention of government figures, local authorities, employers and private support groups, who together came up with a number of initiatives designed to drive the numbers lower. As well as efforts to reduce workplace stress and the introduction of 24-hour telephone helplines – inconceivable just a few years previously – there were other more innovative ideas. Many Japanese railway stations, for example, have now installed blue lighting and mirrors at the very ends of their platforms – where suicides more often occur. The blue lighting is designed to have a soothing effect, with the reflection in the mirror intended as a reminder of self-worth for anyone having suicidal thoughts. While alarming, youth suicides in Japan – at 2.8 deaths per 100,000 – are still lower than the rates among similar age groups in the US, at 14.6 per 100,000 in 2017, and the UK, at 11.2 per 100,000 in 2018. “Around the world we are seeing an increase in youth mental health issues, with 90 per cent of suicides linked to depression,” said Vicki Skorji, director of the Tokyo-based TELL Lifeline counselling service. “And if we see an increase in depression in young people around the world, then that is going to be reflected in the suicide numbers.” She said it was a phenomenon prevalent in developed countries, where young people are placed under a lot of pressure to succeed from a young age. Streaming, stress, suicides: the downside to Singapore’s education system “They have less free time, more planned activities and by the time they get to the end of high school, they’re often burned out,” she said. When student loan debt incurred at university and a shrinking jobs market for graduates are added into the mix, Skorji said “it is kind of surprising that the situation is not actually worse”. Asked what can be done to help young people in Japan who are contemplating ending their lives, Saito said much depends on the support that is available. “Family relationships have been shown to be very important in these situations,” he said. “If emotional support is available from the family, then that is a good start. “But if there are difficulties in the family, which is often another cause of stress in young people, then support can also come from close friends or even an understanding teacher.” If you are having suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, help is available. For Hong Kong, dial +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on +1 800 273 8255. For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page.