The Japanese government tasked a cabinet minister with addressing the issue of loneliness and isolation, both of which have been on the rise during the Covid-19 pandemic and ultimately resulted in a sharp uptick in suicides across the county.
The minister will coordinate with multiple agencies that address issues such as suicide prevention, elderly care, and child poverty, in an attempt to create a comprehensive strategy to tackle the issue.
Later this month a forum is scheduled to hear from experts about what steps can be taken to help those suffering from isolation and loneliness
