Mental Health and Counseling in Japan: A Path Toward Societal Transformation

The collectivist Japanese culture has been influenced by Westernization and internationalization. Today's Japanese mental health problems reflect the confusion among Japanese individuals who live in an unstable period between enduring interdependent cultural values and emerging Western values of independence. This article underscores the importance of mental health counselors working congruently within Japanese society by incorporating the social justice perspective. A conceptual framework for optimal societal adaptation is presented. The proposed model consists of action-oriented outreach and advocacy designed to create societal transformation to foster psychological well-being and reduce existing stigma about psychosocial problems and treatment. Mental health issues in the changing climate of contemporary Japan are illustrated. Emphasis is placed on culturally specific trends and resources in order to prevent conflicts and to maintain harmony among individuals within the changing societal systems.