As part of our activities to raise awareness for World Mental Health Day on October 10, Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI), Betatrip Inc., and Lundbeck Japan K.K. will co-host an online seminar on Wednesday, October 4. The theme of the event is, “Mental Health for People in Their Teens and Twenties.”

At this seminar, specialists in mental health and education will discuss mental health for young people in their teens and twenties, covering topics ranging from the potential for education to eliminate stigma, methods of addressing stress, and providing early-stage care. They will also share other practical information that will be useful for many people. In addition to specialists who are involved in mental health for young people, everyone is welcome to join this event, including young people, their guardians, and anyone who is interested in mental health.

An overview of mental health-related issues facing young people
According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), over 500 people in elementary, middle, and high school students died by suicide in 2022. This was the most since 1980, the earliest year for which such statistics are available. While the most common factor for youth suicides is believed to be health problems, health problems are not only limited to mental disorders. Rather, the process that results in suicide is said to be related to both mental and physical illness. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic changed how people interact with one another, exacerbating social issues like isolation and loneliness. Mental health measures for young people are now a vital issue for society.

Given this backdrop, under the leadership of the MHLW, the Government of Japan is redoubling efforts to establish an environment in which young people can maintain good mental health. For example, the 2022 revision of the Guidelines for the Course of Study for high schools updated health and physical education courses to include information on prevention and recovery for mental disorders. For the first time in nearly 40 years, high school students will have opportunities to learn about mental illness at school, which will contribute to prevention and early detection.

 

 

[Event overview]

Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2023; from 19:00 to 20:30 JST
Format: Online (Zoom webinar)
Language: Japanese only
Participation fee: Free

Co-hosts: HGPI, Betatrip Inc., Lundbeck Japan K.K.
With support from: the MHLW, the ReOpa Self-Help Group for People Living With Depression or Struggling With Life, Silver Ribbon Japan, the Organization of Persons with Psychosocial Disabilities Porque, the National Federation of Associations of Families with The Mental Illness in Japan (Minna-net), COmmunity Mental Health & welfare Bonding Organization (COMHBO), the Japan Depression Center (JDC), the Institute of Japan Mental-health Peer-support training, Peacemind, Inc., and the Royal Danish Embassy

[Program]

Lecture 1: Reducing Mental Health Stigma Through Education: Potential and Challenges

Sosei Yamaguchi (Section Chief, Section of Clinical Service Program Research, Department of Community Mental Health and Law, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP))

Lecture 2: Stress and Stress Management Methods for People in Their Teens and Twenties

Chikaze Sugiyama (Assistant Professor, Faculty of Comprehensive Psychology, Kyoto Tachibana University)

Lecture 3: The Importance of Early Intervention for Young People and an Introduction of the Consultation Support System

Takahiro Nemoto (Professor, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Social Implementation Psychiatry, Toho University School of Medicine)

Panel Discussion (Q&A format)

Moderator: Shunichiro Kurita (Senior Manager, HGPI)

(Please note that seminar content is subject to change without notice.)

Introducing World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is a day for raising awareness toward mental health issues and eliminating stigma that the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) has observed for over three decades. Another objective of World Mental Health Day is to help people unify their voices to take action to create lasting change and foster a society where people can live with hope. World Mental Health Day is officially recognized as an international day by the World Health Organization (WHO). Every year on October 10, awareness-raising activities based on that year’s World Mental Health Day theme are held in over 60 countries around the world. The theme for this year is, “MENTAL HEALTH IS A UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHT.”

For more details, please visit the WFMH website at https://wfmh.global/.