Anata no Ibasho Partners with Kure City Board of Education to Support Children and Combat Loneliness, Isolation, and Suicide

The non-profit organization Anata no Ibasho (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Tokukazu Negishi) will sign a 'Partnership Agreement to Protect Children in Kure' with the Kure City Board of Education on June 1, 2026, regarding consultation services for bullying, abuse, loneliness, isolation, and suicide prevention. According to suicide statistics from the National Police Agency and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the number of student suicides in 2025 reached a record high of 538, a deeply concerning situation. In Kure City, reports and consultations regarding life-threatening issues are increasing, creating a need for a robust consultation system where students can safely reach out for help at any time. The Kure City Board of Education has previously implemented surveys, personal interviews, 'life-valuing education,' promotion of consultation desks, and resident school counselors. However, recognizing that some students find SNS or chat easier to use than face-to-face consultation, they have initiated efforts to open a chat consultation desk through this agreement. To address the deepening problem of loneliness and isolation, it is necessary to integrate these perspectives into all areas of society, including local communities, and for relevant ministries, local governments, and NPOs to collaborate based on three perspectives: (1) creating an environment where it is easy to speak up and seek help, (2) promoting cross-sectoral collaboration to enhance the synergistic effects of measures to create human connections, and (3) developing a foundation for public-private partnerships. Following this agreement, both parties will establish and operate a scheme to coordinate with Kure City Board of Education staff regarding consultations from children received by Anata no Ibasho or cases requiring administrative support. Through this, they aim to create a city where young generations can safely raise children and foster future talent, a society where no one is forced into unwanted loneliness or isolation, and a society where no one is driven to suicide. Anata no Ibasho maintains a system where, for high-urgency consultations, they obtain the user's consent to confirm their residence and connect them with local organizations such as the police, child guidance centers, or self-reliance support offices. Regarding the partnership, Representative Director Tokukazu Negishi stated, 'I am very pleased that our collaboration with local regions is advancing to realize a society without unwanted loneliness. Kure City is an extremely advanced case where the Board of Education has taken the lead in introducing a new chat consultation window, and I hope this will spread to other municipalities.' This partnership is targeted until the end of fiscal year 2026, with plans to evaluate the results at the end of the year to further improve support for children and measures against loneliness, isolation, and suicide.