Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has appointed a minister of loneliness to help curb the depression associated with the Coronavirus pandemic. According to reports by The Japan Times, the PM appointed regional revitalisation minister Tetsushi Sakamoto early this month to oversee government efforts to address the issue of loneliness and isolation, which is becoming increasingly serious amid the pandemic. A few days before the appointment, Japan had recorded a surge in suicides mainly affecting women and the youths. I hope you will identify problems and promote policy measures comprehensively,” Yoshihide Suga told Sakamoto at a meeting. Japan becomes the second country after UK to appoint a minister of ‘loneliness’.

Source: Daily Nation February 23, 2021 14:25 UTC