"Increased 'Internet Escape' in the New School Term: How to Avoid Missing the SOS Signals from Children's Hearts"

The period around the start of a new school term, particularly in Japan, is a time when mental health issues among children and young people tend to surface, especially in September after the summer break. This is often due to factors such as "anxiety about school," "restarting social relationships," and "disrupted daily routines." As a way to cope, there is a tendency to engage in "internet escapism," which involves excessive use of online activities such as watching videos, social media, and gaming. While internet escapism itself is not inherently "bad," if it becomes a habitual form of avoidant coping with real-life difficulties, it can lead to issues such as school reluctance or refusal, reversed sleep patterns, isolation, and heightened suicidal thoughts. In Japan, the number of elementary and junior high school students not attending school reached a record high in the 2023 academic year (346,482 students), prompting public agencies to issue warnings about the increased suicide risk in September. In other countries, frameworks for early intervention have been established, such as EBSA (Emotionally Based School Avoidance) in the UK and School Refusal in the US, where schools, healthcare, and families collaborate to facilitate a gradual return to school. This article will outline "practical" monitoring and coping strategies, consultation resources, and ways to maintain a healthy digital balance, incorporating practices from abroad while considering the situation in Japan. It's crucial not only to reduce device usage time but also to verbalize together **"why there is a desire to escape to the internet now."**