Reporting on Hikikomori

Hikikomori - a term in Japanese society describing a psychological condition which drives people to completely remove themselves from society and remain in their homes, usually interacting only with family. Someone is considered hikikomori if they have been removed from society for >= 6 consecutive months.
Note: This term refers to the person, as well as the condition 

Around two weeks ago, the Japanese government released the results from their first government survey conducted in an attempt to determine the number of hikikomori in the country, finding that 613,000 people between the ages of 40 and 64 are recluses, although the total number spanning all age groups is ~1 million, or .7% of Japan's total recorded population (previous attempts to measure the population have not included more senior hikikomori). More than 3/4 of the total number of hikikomori are men, and a fair number became hikikomori following retirement (although there are also a significant number of young men with the condition). Around half of hikikomori have struggled for >= 7 years. One of the most concerning aspects of developing hikikomori, shown by the number of those who have struggled for >= 7 years, is that battling hikikomori becomes increasingly difficult as time passes, and the support system in place for those effected is nonexistent.

The results of this survey are a loud cry for improved mental health support (or more) in Japan. A business insider article (https://www.businessinsider.com/hikikomori-worrying-mental-health-problem-traps-japanese-at-home-2018-1) delved deeper into the issue, describing some of the driving mental of becoming hikikomori. Various mental illnesses were cited; severe OCD, paralyzing depression, anxiety, and developmental disorders, showing how all-encompassing this condition has become. Across the board, a driver of hikikomori appeared to be a crippling sense of shame felt by those affected. Hikikomori is not only a condition itself, but seems to also be the end result of many untreated mental health conditions.

Business Insider also highlights another segment of the hikikomori population that has earned this condition the nickname "the middle class malady," referencing the number of young men that remain at home, existing primarily in virtual words, relying on the financial support of their parents, in a way that many claim only those in the middle class have the means for. This has had negative economic impacts in Japan's dwindling work force, and those in government predict that this group will end up becoming reliant on government support later in life.

From an economic perspective, the government has great motivations to address this growing issue, and is working to establish programs to visit hikikomori and provide in-person support, as well as an increase in counseling centers. But is this enough? The recent coverage on this condition seems to indicate much larger societal concerns - many, young and old, are struggling to function in Japanese society. Will an increase in counseling centers address what seems to be a deeper problem? The mention of this sense of "shame" felt by many stuck with me as an especially concerning aspect of the condition, and highlighted the absence of resources available to those struggling, or the expectations and pressures that may prevent many from seeking help, even if support centers exist.

This issue also seems inherently connected to another article this week detailing increasingly low rates of heterosexual contact / intercourse in Japan's young adults, specifically in the male population. The two seem to go hand in hand; as more young men isolate themselves, they are therefore not interacting with the rest of the population, let alone experiencing sexual contact.

I believe that this issue has huge implications for Japanese society moving forwards, and am interested to know if there have been more recent governmental actions to address this.