Schools across Japan are stepping up measures to reduce student suicides that have been on the rise amid the coronavirus pandemic, holding sessions about mental health and using technology to help students report their moods.
Japan logged a record-high 499 student suicides last year amid the pandemic, with many believed to have felt lonely during school closures that lasted for months to prevent the virus from spreading. The figure for the first half of 2021 was higher than a year ago, government data showed.
At a mental health educational session organized by a junior high school in Wakayama Prefecture in March, a school counselor, explained to around 140 students how to spot signs they may be developing mental health conditions.