Dear Editor, Recently, attention around the world has focused on young carers. A young carer is defined as a child (under the age of 18) who takes on the responsibility of caring for an adult family member who needs care, and who performs household chores for and provides care and emotional support to that family member. 1 In the United Kingdom, where leading efforts to address the problem of young carers are being implemented, approximately 7 of young people are providing substantial care to the extent that they could be considered young carers, and 3 of young people are providing vast amounts of care. 2 Nevertheless, most countries around the world including Japan have not sufficiently addressed the problem of young carers as they should. The present study ascertained the current status of young carers in Japan based on published data and information,3-5 and we discuss approaches that are needed to address the problem of young carers based on the following findings. Based on these findings, schools, medical facilities, and welfare and other government agencies need to collaborate in examining and implementing efforts to address the problem of young carers. Social support from the local community is needed, approaches from the perspective of public health are also vital. Plans to address this problem in Japan should be established with reference to efforts in countries where leading initiatives to address the problem of young carers are being implemented.
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