Suicides among school children in Japan at highest level since 1980, overall figure declines for second consecutive year

From Jiji via The Japan Times

January 29 2025

TOKYO – The number of people who killed themselves in Japan fell to 20,268 in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of decline and the second-lowest level after 20,169 in 2019, the health ministry said Wednesday.

Elementary, junior high and high school students accounted for 527, the highest level since records began in 1980, with the number staying above 500 for the third straight year. Of them, a record 163 junior high school students killed themselves.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Keiichiro Tachibana said the government “takes very seriously” that the number of such students marked a record high.

“We will continue to make utmost efforts to protect children’s lives and aim to realize a society where no one is driven to kill oneself,” Tachibana said, adding that the government is taking such measures as offering consulting using social media.

The overall number of suicides among men fell by 1,099 from the preceding year to 13,763, while 6,505 women killed themselves, a decrease of 470. The suicide rate, or the number of suicides per 100,000 people, stood at 16.3.

Of the total, people who killed themselves in their 50s was the largest age group, at 3,786, though down by 408. Those in their 40s followed, with the number falling by 420 to 3,205. Suicides among students increased by 53 to 1,072.

The top cause of suicides was health problems, with 11,986 people taking their lives for such reasons, down by 417. Suicides caused by economic and livelihood problems decreased by 106 to 5,075 and those due to family problems dropped by 374 to 4,334. Those resulting from internet and social media difficulties hit a record 42.

The number of suicides declined in 38 of Japan’s 47 prefectures. Iwate saw the highest suicide rate, at 22.9, followed by Yamanashi, at 21.9, and Niigata, at 21.2. The rate was the lowest in Tottori, at 12.1, followed by Ishikawa, at 13.4, and Kyoto, at 13.9.