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Japan Today
14-05-2025
- Health
- Japan Today
Japanese kids' mental health ranks 32nd among developed nations: UNICEF
Children in Japan continue to suffer poor mental health, with the country ranking 32nd among 43 developed and emerging nations due to high suicide rates and other factors, a UNICEF report released Wednesday showed. The country improved from 37th in 2020 when the ranking was last published, although this time the suicide rate among Japanese youth was the fourth highest among wealthy states surveyed, worsening from 12th. In contrast, Japan topped the list on physical health, unchanged from the previous corresponding report. The report by the United Nations Children's Fund analyzed members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union under the categories of mental well-being, physical health, and academic and social skills. Japan ranked 12th in academic and social skills, up from 27th, and 14th overall, up from 20th. The Netherlands topped the overall ranking, which excluded the United States and six other countries with insufficient mental health data. "There is little awareness that children have mental problems in Japan, and government measures have been ineffective," said Aya Abe, a professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University with expertise in poverty issues. As for physical health, she said, "Obesity is at a low level, but there is the problem of underweight children." The report noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reduced children's academic performance and mental and physical health in developed countries. It called for each country to address issues impacting the well-being of children who are growing up in a modern world with epidemics, conflicts and climate change. © KYODO
Kyodo News
14-05-2025
- Health
- Kyodo News
Japanese kids' mental health ranks poorly among rich nations: UNICEF
KYODO NEWS - 5 hours ago - 13:01 | All, Japan Children in Japan continue to suffer poor mental health, with the country ranking 32nd among 43 developed and emerging nations due to high suicide rates and other factors, a UNICEF report released Wednesday showed. The country improved from 37th in 2020 when the ranking was last published, although this time the suicide rate among Japanese youth was the fourth highest among wealthy states surveyed, worsening from 12th. In contrast, Japan topped the list on physical health, unchanged from the previous corresponding report. The report by the United Nations Children's Fund analyzed members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union under the categories of mental well-being, physical health, and academic and social skills. Japan ranked 12th in academic and social skills, up from 27th, and 14th overall, up from 20th. The Netherlands topped the overall ranking, which excluded the United States and six other countries with insufficient mental health data. "There is little awareness that children have mental problems in Japan, and government measures have been ineffective," said Aya Abe, a professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University with expertise in poverty issues. As for physical health, she said, "Obesity is at a low level, but there is the problem of underweight children." The report noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reduced children's academic performance and mental and physical health in developed countries. It called for each country to address issues impacting the well-being of children who are growing up in a modern world with epidemics, conflicts and climate change. Related coverage: 39% of people living in Japan feel lonely: gov't study Bullying victim quit prestigious Japan national elementary school Japan's child population falls for 44th straight yr to new record
The Mainichi
14-05-2025
- Health
- The Mainichi
Japanese kids' mental health ranks poorly among rich nations: UNICEF
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Children in Japan continue to suffer poor mental health, with the country ranking 32nd among 43 developed and emerging nations due to high suicide rates and other factors, a UNICEF report released Wednesday showed. The country improved from 37th in 2020 when the ranking was last published, although this time the suicide rate among Japanese youth was the fourth highest among wealthy states surveyed, worsening from 12th. In contrast, Japan topped the list on physical health, unchanged from the previous corresponding report. The report by the United Nations Children's Fund analyzed members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union under the categories of mental well-being, physical health, and academic and social skills. Japan ranked 12th in academic and social skills, up from 27th, and 14th overall, up from 20th. The Netherlands topped the overall ranking, which excluded the United States and six other countries with insufficient mental health data. "There is little awareness that children have mental problems in Japan, and government measures have been ineffective," said Aya Abe, a professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University with expertise in poverty issues. As for physical health, she said, "Obesity is at a low level, but there is the problem of underweight children." The report noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reduced children's academic performance and mental and physical health in developed countries. It called for each country to address issues impacting the well-being of children who are growing up in a modern world with epidemics, conflicts and climate change.
Japan Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- Japan Times
Japan ranks 14th in UNICEF child well-being survey
Japan came 14th among 36 developed countries in a new child well-being survey, up from 20th in the previous survey released in 2020, a report by a UNICEF research institute showed Wednesday. The UNICEF Innocenti report comprehensively evaluated children's mental well-being, physical health and skills. In the latest rankings, based on data as of 2022, Japan topped the list of surveyed countries, mostly member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in the physical health category, unchanged from the previous rankings. Japan ranked 32nd in the mental well-being category, up from 37th, and 12th in the category of skills, up from 27th. Aya Abe, head of Tokyo Metropolitan University's Research Center for Child and Adolescent Poverty, attributed the improvements to the short period of school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic and the improved economic situations of households with children. Top positions in the latest overall rankings were held by the Netherlands, Denmark and other European countries. The United States and Australia were excluded from the rankings due to a lack of data. Life satisfaction among 15-year-olds declined in most surveyed countries. Few countries saw improvements, with only three countries seeing an increase in the share of students with basic academic skills. An official of the UNICEF research institute suggested that long-term school closures due to the pandemic have had a major impact on children's lives.
14-05-2025
- Health
Japan Ranks 14th in UNICEF Child Well-Being Survey
News from Japan May 14, 2025 16:56 (JST) Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)--Japan came 14th among 36 developed countries in a latest child well-being survey, up from 20th in the previous survey released in 2020, a report by a UNICEF research institute showed Wednesday. The UNICEF Innocenti report comprehensively evaluated children's mental well-being, physical health and skills. In the latest rankings, based on data as of 2022, Japan topped the list of surveyed countries, mostly member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in the physical health category, unchanged from the previous rankings. Japan ranked 32nd in the mental well-being category, up from 37th, and 12th in the category of skills, up from 27th. Aya Abe, head of Tokyo Metropolitan University's Research Center for Child and Adolescent Poverty, attributed the improvements to the short period of school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic and the improved economic situations of households with children. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
