Suicides in Japan fell to their lowest number on record in 2025, but deaths among elementary, junior high and high school students rose to their highest, according to the 2026 white paper on suicide policy approved by the Cabinet on Oct 23, 2026. The paper says some groups are not following the downward trend and calls for systems that keep people connected to support for as long as they need it.
The figures cover 2025. The overall count marked a record low, while the student count set a record high in the same year, leaving the two trends moving in opposite directions.
The white paper draws a link between the two: a falling national total does not mean every group is improving. For children and teenagers, the numbers moved the other way.
A gap between the national trend and young people
The paper treats the student figure as evidence that some groups are not on a declining path. It argues that support has to stay reachable over time, rather than being offered once and then withdrawn.
The Cabinet approval sets the government's formal reading of the year's data and its direction for policy. The paper's emphasis falls on continuity of support for people who need it.
What the paper leaves open
The material released with the Cabinet decision does not give a breakdown of the student deaths by age or cause, and it does not set out specific measures. It states the overall and student figures and the conclusion that support must remain available.
Japan's suicide prevention policy is set out in a basic law and reviewed each year through this white paper, which the Cabinet approves and publishes. The paper's figures are the official annual count.