Hikikomori: Thousands in Japan slipping into complete social withdrawal

A government survey found roughly 541,000 (1.57% of the population) but many experts believe the total is much higher as it can take years before they seek help, BBC reported.

According to the BBC, the term was coined by Japanese psychologist Tamaki Saito in his 1998 book 'Social Withdrawal - Adolescence Without End'.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica describes hikikomori as a condition when a person displays severe socially avoidant behaviours for at least six months, causing distress and dysfunction.

A person suffering from hikikomori does not want to go outside of the home, to go to work or attend school, or even go out for daily necessities like buying groceries.

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, there is no clear cause of hikikomori. While some psychologists suggest that socially avoidant behavior may be triggered by stressful events, other research links hikikomori to dysfunctional family environments or traumatic experiences.

The phenomenon of social withdrawal has become increasingly prevalent in Japan in recent years. It is associated with feelings of anxiety, depression, and social phobia.

Although the condition was originally believed to be limited to Japan, cases of hikikomori have emerged worldwide in recent years.

For instance, a 2005 analysis in South Korea indicated that there were roughly 33,000 socially withdrawn teenagers, which accounted for 0.3% of the population. Similarly, a 2014 survey in Hong Kong reported a figure of 1.9%.

Furthermore, hikikomori cases are now being reported in various other countries including the United States, Spain, Italy, France, and other places around the globe.

It is uncertain whether the rise in concern about social isolation is due to heightened awareness or an actual increase in the prevalence of the problem.

However, issues related to loneliness are increasingly becoming a cause for concern around the world. For instance, in January of last year, the UK appointed its first minister for loneliness, and recent data from the Office of National Statistics shows that nearly 10% of 16 to 24-year-olds reported feeling "always or often" lonely.