疫情阻礙吐露心聲
Japan’s child suicide rate has reached a new high since records were kept in 1974, with 415 Japanese students taking their own lives last year, up 98 from 2019, according to a survey by the country’s education ministry.
日本教育部調查顯示，去年日本的兒童自殺率創下自1974年有記錄以來的新高，有415名學生自殺，相較於2019年增加了98人。
since(conj.)自從take their own lives自殺=commit suicide=kill themselvessurvey(n.)民意調查;意見調查
The surge in the number of children committing suicide is attributed to increased pressure at home as schools shut down due to the pandemic.
兒童自殺人數激增的原因是疫情導致學校停課，學生在家感到壓力變大。
surge(n.)激增;驟增=a sudden increase=spikeattribute 結果 to 原因 把…歸咎、歸因於...
As they spent more time at home, the stress that adults experienced may have been passed on to the children.
隨著在家的時間越來越長，成年人所承受的壓力也可能感染到孩子。
stress(n.)(內心)壓力pressure(n.)(外來)壓力may have V.pp(對過去事情的肯定推測)有可能…
The report says while the number of bullying cases had significantly decreased, school activities and communication with peers and teachers were restricted as a result of COVID.
報告指出，雖然霸凌案件的數量顯著減少，但疫情使得學校活動以及與同儕、老師交流受到限制，
while(conj.)雖然bully(v.)霸凌、欺負peer(n.)同儕as a result of...因為…的緣故=due to=because of
Many students lost opportunities for consultation and the resolution of their concerns.
許多學生失去了諮詢和吐露心聲的機會。
consultation(n.)磋商;諮詢;求教resolution(n.)解決;解除;消除a successful resolution to the crisis成功化解危機
Japan’s suicide rate is the highest among the Group of Seven nations.
日本的自殺率為G7（七大工業國組織）國家之冠。
among(prep.)在..之間the Group of Seven (G7) 七大工業國組織
Although the government has been trying to bring down the number in recent years, the pandemic has dealt a huge blow to the country’s economy, putting the last straw on those who were already vulnerable.
儘管政府近年來不斷致力於降低自殺率，但是疫情對經濟造成巨大打擊，將最後一根稻草壓在了那些已經處於弱勢的人身上。
bring down=reduce減少deal a blow to... 打擊have an impact on…為…帶來衝擊the last straw(壓垮駱駝的)最後一根稻草;使人最終崩潰的一擊vulnerable(adj.)易受傷的;易受影響(或攻擊)的;脆弱的
In 2020, Japan’s suicide rates went up for the first time in 11 years due to a spike in cases among young women.
2020年，由於年輕女性的自殺率激增，日本的自殺率11年來首度上升。
spike(n.)激增;驟增=surge
In October last year, 879 women took their own lives, up 70% from a year ago.
去年10月，有879名女性結束了自己的生命，較一年前增加了70％。
Japan’s education ministry has conceived various means of intervention for suicide prevention among students. An essential part of these measures is accessibility.
日本教育部已經構思了各種介入措施預防學生自殺，其中很重要的一部分是輔導資源。
conceive(v.)構想;想出;設想出(計劃或主意)means(n.)(單複數同型)手段;方法a means to an end 達到目的的手段intervention (n.)干預、干涉、介入suicide prevention自殺防治accessibility(n.)(地點)便於到達;交通便利;易於接近、親近人;好打交道
“We must continue to support children,” Satomi Takahashi, a researcher on children’s mental health, told NHK. “It is important to create a system where they can talk directly, such as a place where they can talk about their feelings.”
兒童心理健康的研究者高橋里美告訴NHK：「我們必須繼續支持兒童，必須創建一個他們可以直接對話的系統，比如一個他們可以說出自己感受的地方。」
mental health心理健康physical health生理健康