Social implementation of early psychiatric intervention and youth mental health services in Japan.

Abstract

Early psychiatric intervention and youth mental health measures are crucial in Japan due to the declining birth rate and increasing levels of stress among young people. Although the need for such services is increasingly recognised, implementation in Japan is lagging. The Government of Japan is currently building the Community-based Integrated Care System That Also Addresses Mental Disorders. Although its main purpose was to move from hospitalisation to a care-in-the-community model, the need to incorporate early psychiatric intervention services for long-term sustainability is also recognised. The demographic and geographic characteristics of each region must be considered when designing early psychiatric services. In this perspective, four model regions were selected to reflect typical characteristics in Japan, namely Adachi City in Tokyo, Akita Prefecture, Tokorozawa City in Saitama Prefecture, and the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan region. To introduce early consultation and support services for young people, the Department of Psychiatry and Implementation Science was established in 2023, based on a joint research agreement with a leading company.