Child suicide has been a long-standing issue, tending to increase around September 1st, after the summer break. The Public Interest Incorporated Association for Child Development Science (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Osaka) will hold a free online seminar, "Expert Researcher x Manabu Wakuta: Child Suicide Prevention and Well-being," to coincide with the start of summer vacation for many schools.

Background and Objectives

Recently, adolescent mental health and suicide prevention have become top priorities in educational settings and local communities. The difficulty in detecting warning signs and the importance of early intervention. How should schools and communities support children caught between these two challenges?

In this seminar, Dr. Masaki Adachi, Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology, School of Psychology, Meiji Gakuin University, and a visiting researcher at our institute, will share scientific insights on child development and suicide risk. Additionally, Dr. Manabu Wakuta, Senior Researcher at our institute, will discuss practical approaches for schools and communities on "how to perceive and act," focusing on "Nicori 2," a new digital survey tool for visualizing children's mental health.

In the latter half of the seminar, Dr. Adachi and Senior Researcher Wakuta will engage in a special dialogue.

※What is Nicori 2?

Nicori 2 is a new assessment tool developed by the Public Interest Incorporated Association for Child Development Science, scheduled for release in fiscal year 2027. It is an upgrade from the current NiCoLi, which assesses mental health risks, and features a multi-stage screening that combines a "Well-being Check" to measure children's strengths and mental vitality with "suicide prevention" through risk interviews.

In this seminar, the two developers will discuss Nicori 2, including advance information.

Online Seminar Outline

Expert Researcher x Manabu Wakuta: Child Suicide Prevention and Well-being (Recorded distribution available)

Organizer: Public Interest Incorporated Association for Child Development Science

Date and Time: July 22, 2026 (Wed) 14:00 - 15:00

Format: Online (Zoom) *Details will be provided after registration.

Content: - Lecture: "Warning Signs and Prevention of Adolescent Suicide" by Masaki Adachi - Lecture: "Field Support: Approaches Using Nicori 2" by Manabu Wakuta - Special Dialogue

Participation Fee: Free

Target Audience: Those interested in mental health, suicide prevention, and related support and practices.

Capacity: 500 participants (first-come, first-served registration)

Registration: Advance registration required (Deadline: July 22 (Tue) 12:00)

Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe2yQRai1Vec2hF1Z-Qj1VTVm4V9LmSAwlWo0BSzoB_qhSnaw/viewform

Seminar details here

Researcher Profiles

【Manabu Wakuta】

Director and Senior Researcher, Public Interest Incorporated Association for Child Development Science

Ph.D. in Child Development

Visiting Faculty, Graduate School of Osaka University

Visiting Researcher, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University

Committee Member, Committee on Education, Japanese Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

After over 20 years of experience as a special needs school teacher, he pursued graduate studies at a joint graduate school to research evidence-based support methods and issues related to developmental disabilities and problem behaviors, obtaining a Ph.D. in Child Development. Currently, as Senior Researcher at the Public Interest Incorporated Association for Child Development Science, he is involved in developing programs, trainer training, and educational materials for the prevention and intervention of children's problem behaviors (bullying, school refusal, violent behavior).

Books: "Changing Schools: The Science of Bullying" (Nihon Hyoron Sha), "Scientific Parenting: 10 Evidence-Based Truths" (Ryokushobo)

Series: "True Self-Esteem Q&A" and "Scientific Approach to the Rebellion Period" (EduNavi)

【Masaki Adachi】

Visiting Researcher, Public Interest Incorporated Association for Child Development Science

Associate Professor, School of Psychology, Meiji Gakuin University

Visiting Researcher, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University

Ph.D. in Human Sciences

Specializes in developmental clinical psychology, neurodevelopmental disorders (developmental disabilities), and mental health and related factors from infancy to adolescence. His research focuses on protective and risk factors for child mental health from infancy to adolescence, and the involvement of neurodevelopmental traits.

Furthermore, from the perspective of a certified public psychologist and clinical psychologist, he emphasizes the interplay between research and support, and collaborates with local governments to build a child suicide prevention system.

◾️About the Public Interest Incorporated Association for Child Development Science

Seminar details here

This is one of the few organizations in Japan that conducts research and development of evidence-based programs and provides them in areas such as parenting, developmental disabilities, bullying prevention, and employment support. Based on scientific research related to child development, education, and bullying prevention, the institute also works on the research and development and dissemination of support programs in education, sports, and local communities.

Official Website of the Public Interest Incorporated Association for Child Development Science

https://kohatsu.org/

【Contact Information】

For inquiries regarding this press release or interview requests, please contact the following.

Public Interest Incorporated Association for Child Development Science, Social Implementation Bureau

TEL: 053-456-0575

E-mail: info@kohatsu.org

Inquiry Form: https://kohatsu.org/contact/

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