Culturally responsive approaches to mitigate mental health stigma in Japan

Billions of people struggle each year with mental health issues. Japan in particular has seen a decline in mental health, shown by the nation’s record high suicide rate set in 2022, reflecting the severity of the issue. The rise in suicide and depression rates is compounded by the stigmatization of mental health care. While stigmatization is the main factor for the mental health decline, underlying factors such as cultural beliefs and social structures also contribute to the issue. This thesis reviews approaches to mitigate stigma and increase mental health hygiene in Japan, focusing on collectivist approaches to best fit Japanese cultural beliefs. The paper reviews literature on Japan’s mental health issues and presents evidence of successful, culturally appropriate destigmatization solutions. It also offers a new perspective on how Japan can shift its view on mental health through the implementation of culturally appropriate solutions that may lead to an increase in mental health awareness.