Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Otsuka) announces the launch of an upgraded version of the existing FACEDUO Support Program for Families of People with Severe Social Withdrawal (Hikikomori) developed in collaboration with Professor Takahiro Kato of the Department of Psychiatry, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine. The original program, which began offering services in February 2024, enables families to learn how to identify social withdrawal through immersive experiences using virtual reality (VR). By experiencing the same scenarios from both their own perspectives as parents, and that of their child, families gain insights that foster better communication and support the improvement of relationships within the household. With the cooperation of the Faculty of Medicine at Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, the program now includes a comprehensive set of educational materials, such as training videos and booklets, that emphasize the importance of family support and provide practical methods. These additions make it possible to offer a more holistic educational support system for families dealing with social withdrawal.

The Hikikomori Research Lab @ Kyushu & Hokkaido, led by Professor Takahiro Kato of Hokkaido University, has been conducting research aimed at developing comprehensive support methods for individuals experiencing social withdrawal (hikikomori). In addition to supporting individuals directly, the lab has also focused on family support. The lab has been conducting research on an educational program that incorporates elements of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), which teaches emergency response techniques for individuals with mental health conditions, and Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT), which is based on cognitive behavioral therapy. In addition to lectures, the program includes experiential learning through role-playing exercises, allowing participants to acquire practical skills for supporting individuals with mental health challenges. The program is structured into five steps, aiming to help family members deepen their understanding of social withdrawal and mental illness, and to enhance their practical abilities by learning specific communication skills--such as how to encourage socially withdrawn individuals to visit support centers or seek medical care--so that such interactions can proceed more smoothly.

The newly upgraded Support Program for Families of People with Severe Social Withdrawal (Hikikomori) incorporates the family support process developed through previous research, along with educational videos and booklets for learning theoretical concepts, and VR experiences for practicing communication skills. This comprehensive approach was designed to enhance the effectiveness of family support in clinical settings. The VR technology utilized in the program leverages the system and expertise of FACEDUO Social Skills Training VR, jointly developed by Otsuka and Jolly Good.

This program is intended for use in family education sessions conducted by local governments and consultation agencies or facilities across Japan that provide support for socially withdrawn individuals (hikikomori).