Japan regional revitalisation minister Tetsushi Sakamoto photo
Japan loneliness minister Tetsushi Sakamoto

Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga appoints a minister of loneliness to ease the depression due to increased suicides linked with the virus pandemic.


According to The Japan Times, the PM appointed regional revitalisation minister Tetsushi Sakamoto at the beginning of this month to supervise government efforts in addressing the issue of loneliness and isolation, which raised an alarm in the country.

Sakamoto with the help of the Health Ministry and other agencies is expected to create policies on suicide prevention and to combat social isolation and mental separation.


The move came, just a week before the appointment, Japan had recorded a wave of suicides mainly affecting women and the youths.


According to data reported by China’s state-owned tv channel, CGTN, suicide rates for females grew by 14.5 Percent in 2020 to 6,976 deaths.


“Women are suffering from isolation more (than men), and the number of suicides is on a rising course. I hope you will identify problems and promote policy measures comprehensively,” Yoshihide Suga told Sakamoto at a meeting.


Japan becomes the second country after the UK to appoint a minister of ‘loneliness’.

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