Towards a Society That Leaves No One Behind: The Full Scope of the Act on Promotion of Measures for Loneliness and Isolation and Our Role
In modern society, "loneliness" and "isolation" are not merely individual problems, but urgent issues that must be addressed by society as a whole. The "Act on Promotion of Measures for Loneliness and Isolation," which came into effect on April 1, 2024, marked a major turning point for Japan to establish a full-scale legal framework and implement organizational measures to address this issue.
In this article, we will unravel the vast amount of data and the structure of social issues behind this law, and explain in detail why this law is necessary now and what is required of each and every one of us.
1. Why Measures for Loneliness and Isolation Now: The Reality Shown by Numbers
First, let's look at the reality of "loneliness and isolation" behind why the government has reached the point of enacting a law, using figures.
The Deepening Reality of Isolation
According to a survey conducted by the Cabinet Office, the percentage of people who feel lonely in some way is by no means small. Approximately 16.8% of people across all age groups responded that they "feel lonely." When converted to Japan's population (approximately 124 million), this means that an estimated 20 million or more people feel lonely.
Particularly shocking is the increase in single-person households. In the 2020 national census, the proportion of single-person households reached 38.0% of all households, doubling from about 20% in 1980. This figure suggests that the number of people "living without anyone to rely on" is structurally increasing.
The Cost of Socioeconomic Loss
Loneliness and isolation have a significant impact not only on mental health but also economically. According to one private estimate, the social costs resulting from loneliness and isolation (increased medical expenses, decreased labor productivity, social security costs such as welfare) are analyzed to reach the scale of several trillion yen annually.
Specifically, there is data showing that people with strong feelings of loneliness have about 1.26 times higher risk of developing dementia in the future, and the risk of depression jumps to about 1.5 times compared to those who do not. In other words, measures against loneliness not only improve individual well-being (happiness) but also serve the national strategic purpose of optimizing social security costs.
2. Purpose and Basic Principles of the Act on Promotion of Measures for Loneliness and Isolation
The Act on Promotion of Measures for Loneliness and Isolation has clarified that this complex issue should be addressed as a "responsibility of society as a whole."
Three Pillars of the Law
There are three major important pillars in this law.
Clarification of the responsibility to promote measures for loneliness and isolation Defined the roles that the national government, local governments, private organizations, and residents should play from their respective positions.
Establishment of the Headquarters for Promotion of Measures for Loneliness and Isolation By establishing the "Headquarters for Promotion of Measures for Loneliness and Isolation" within the Cabinet and having the Prime Minister serve as the head, it enabled cross-ministerial policy planning that transcends the boundaries of government ministries.
Formulation of guidelines for promoting measures for loneliness and isolation The national government bears the obligation to create plans and clarify achievement goals. Based on this, it has also become an obligation for each local government to make efforts to formulate a "Loneliness and Isolation Countermeasure Plan."
Understanding the Difference Between "Loneliness" and "Isolation"
In this law, the following definitions are emphasized.
Loneliness: A "subjective feeling" of having no connection with others.
Isolation: An "objective state" of being socially isolated and unable to receive necessary support.
This law does not simply label "being alone" as something bad. What it aims for is "a society that avoids states of isolation and connects people to necessary support when they need it."
3. Specific Measures and the Role of Private Support
With the enforcement of the law, how will the support system at the field level specifically change?
Strengthening "Support for NPOs and Other Private Organizations"
The most important roles in the field of loneliness and isolation measures are played by NPOs and volunteer groups active in local communities. Article 14 of the Act explicitly states the need for activity support and the strengthening of cooperation with these organizations.
Until now, these private support organizations have often relied on individual subsidy projects, leaving their financial foundations unstable. However, this law aims to build a scheme through which the government can stably support the activities of private organizations. In particular, the policy is to strengthen public-private partnerships for organizations that provide "places to belong" and "consultation support."
Diversification of Support "Outlets"
Previously, consultation services were siloed, and cases were often seen where people were passed around, told "go to the welfare office if you are in financial trouble" or "go to the health center if you are struggling mentally." This Act strengthens the "Loneliness and Isolation Consultation Counters" that connect these services, promoting the construction of a "no-refusal consultation support system" where individuals can connect to appropriate support regardless of which counter they visit.
4. What We Can Do: Rebuilding Local Communities
Just because the law has been established does not mean the government can solve everything. The ultimate success of measures against loneliness and isolation is entrusted to the power of local communities.
Why are "small connections" important?
According to one study, people who greet or have brief conversations with neighbors at least once a week have significantly lower feelings of loneliness compared to those who do not.
Participation in local activities at least once a week: A tendency for happiness levels to increase by 15%
The realization that "there is someone I can rely on when I am in trouble": Reduces suicide risk by more than 20%
As shown, while large-scale public support is important, the "small connections" in daily life are the greatest bulwark against isolation.
New Places to Belong in a Digital Society
In recent years, online communities have also begun to be recognized as "places to belong." Especially for the younger generation, peer support through social media (mutual support among peers with the same worries) has the aspect of being more accessible than existing consultation agencies. In the operation of the legal system, how to hybridize the use of these digital tools with real-world places to belong will be a key factor in the future.
5. Summary and Future Outlook
The Act on Promotion of Measures for Loneliness and Isolation is a groundbreaking step for Japan, re-framing loneliness, which had been treated as a "personal problem," as a "problem of social systems."
Moving forward, based on this law, the following concrete outcomes are required.
Promotion of visualization: Conduct annual surveys on the actual state of loneliness and isolation to implement data-driven policy improvements.
Human resource development: Strengthen the deployment of social workers and support staff specialized in loneliness and isolation support.
Economic independence and social belonging: Do not separate support for the needy from loneliness measures; promote employment security and the resolution of isolation as a set.
Finally, I want to emphasize the fact that everyone can feel "lonely" at some point in their life. It is never something to be ashamed of. With the enactment of this law, we have gained an environment where it is easier to raise our voices and ask for help.
While strengthening the social safety net, we must also be aware that a simple "good morning" to a neighbor can save someone from isolation. This is the first step toward truly realizing the spirit of this law.
I sincerely hope that the Japan we live in will mature not just into a nation of numerical development, but into a truly kind society where no one is lonely, no one is isolated, and everyone looks out for one another.
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