Toilet Paper to Wipe Away Suicidal Tendency

Toilet paper rolls in public toilets of universities are being used as catalysts to check rising suicides among youngsters in Central Japan. “Dear you, who might want to end it all”, is written on these unusual toilet papers.

Officials of Yamanashi region of Japan have printed messages for suicide prevention on these special toilet papers. These toilet paper sheets also contain hotline numbers for suicide prevention.

Anyone is all alone, while in the toilet. So, the Japanese authorities have tried to provide some thinking points to the youths with suicidal tendencies, when they sit on the toilet seat.

Illustrations are also added to these toilet papers. Pictures of a curled-up cat and an umbrella-holding woman looking at the sky decorate the messages written by mental health professionals. All these messages are aimed at dispelling loneliness among youths.

One such message reads, “Dear you, spending painful days pretending to be okay for someone else”. “You don’t need to tell us everything…but how about a little bit”, reads another.

Such toilet rolls were distributed to 12 regional universities in central Japan in October.

There was a spike in suicide attempts during the Covid pandemic and time after it. In 2020 a total of 499 school students committed suicide in Japan.