【 課題番号 2-2 】
Innovative Research Program on Suicide Countermeasures in FY2021: Report on Commissioned
Research Results

Field 2: Improving support tools for local governments
Topic number：2-2
Research topic:
Research on Countermeasures to Prevent Suicide Among Pregnant Women, Children, and Young Adults

Principal Researcher:
Takeo Fujiwara
Professor, Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Co-Researcher:
Yukako Tani
Assistant Professor, Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Satomi Doi
Research Fellow, Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Aya Isumi
Research Fellow, Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Yui Yamaoka
Project Assistant Professor, Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Shuhei Terada
Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Shiori Noguchi
Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Tomoki Kawahara
Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University1

【 課題番号 2-2 】

Summary:Adverse childhood experiences (e.g., poverty and child abuse) are associated with suicide among pregnant
mothers, children, and adolescents, but effective intervention policies have yet to be implemented. We, therefore,sought to clarify the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and mental health deterioration and suicidal
ideation among children, adolescents, and pregnant and nursing mothers in Utsunomiya City or through an Internetbased survey, and to examine the effects of psychological intervention using a contact communicable media (Hugvie)in clinical settings when there are adverse childhood experiences. The study was conducted to examine the effects ofpsychological intervention on mental health in the presence of childhood adversity in a clinical setting. This study
was promoted by the following five studies. In Study 1, we clarified the association between blood collection dataand suicide risk in a population-based sample based on the Basic Resident Registry of Utsunomiya City. Study 2
identified the association between economic status, childhood adversity, and positive experiences with suicide risk
Study 3 identified risk factors for self-injurious ideation among mothers within 2 years of childbirth through anInternet survey. Study 4 identified risk factors for suicide risk among adults nationwide through an Internet survey.
Particular attention was paid to gender differences, occupation, economic status, and social isolation. In Study 5, ina randomized controlled trial, we examined the effect of psychotherapy using a hug pillow (Hugvie) on suicide risk
prevention. Study 6 identified oral flora associated with suicidal ideation in a cohort of adolescents. Study 7 identified
risk factors for suicidal ideation in fourth-year medical students. In Study 8, we examined whether depression in firstyear medical students could be predicted from facial expression data in online lectures. These results suggest that
economic status, social isolation, lack of conversation, and childhood adversity experiences are risk factors in theCOVID-19 pandemic, that positive childhood experiences are protective factors, that oral flora may be an effective
biomarker for rarefied thoughts, and that psychotherapy using a hug pillow may be not effective in cases of highsuicide risk. It was also found that facial expressions in online lectures can predict depression to some extent.

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