Japan Plans AI-Powered Initiative to Prevent Student Suicides

According to Japan’s Kyodo News agency, citing sources at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the initiative aims to strengthen early intervention and provide support to people experiencing psychological and social crises through social media platforms widely used by young people.

The ministry began implementing suicide prevention programs through social media in 2018, following a high-profile crime that shocked the country. The perpetrator, who had established an online suicide club, killed nine people.

During fiscal year 2024, ministry experts, assisted by volunteers, provided counseling and engaged in conversations with people facing difficult circumstances through social media approximately 337,000 times. Around 44% of those receiving support were under the age of 19, highlighting the need to expand services targeting young people.

The planned initiative comes amid growing concern over suicide rates among schoolchildren. Although Japan has recorded an overall decline in suicides since 2003, the country reported fewer than 20,000 cases last year for the first time since the end of World War II.

However, the number of suicides among elementary and junior high school students reached approximately 540, the highest level recorded in the postwar period.

The proposed AI-based initiative is intended to strengthen existing prevention efforts by identifying people in distress and facilitating earlier access to support through digital platforms.