Abstract

NAVIGATING MENTAL HEALTH TRENDS AMONG YOUTH IN JAPAN AND TAIWAN AMIDST COVID-19: A METHODOLOGICAL AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated a significant upheaval globally, adversely affecting mental health, with a pronounced impact on the youth in Japan and Taiwan. This paper explores the intricate dynamics of suicide trends and mental health challenges faced by these populations during the pandemic, employing advanced methodological frameworks such as Latent Class Analysis (LCA) and pharmaco epidemiology. Through the lens of recent studies, we delve into the genetic and environmental factors contributing to mental health issues, emphasizing the importance of integrating genetic research, populationbased health surveys, and pharmaco epidemiological data to inform targeted interventions and public health policies. The comparative analysis between Japan and Taiwan reveals the influence of cultural, social, and economic factors on mental health outcomes, highlighting the necessity for collaborative efforts that bridge the gap between research, clinical practice, and policy-making. Ethical considerations in genetic and molecular epidemiology underscore the need for a balanced approach to research, ensuring privacy and ethical data use. This paper calls for a multidisciplinary and globally collaborative approach to psychiatric epidemiology, advocating for methodological innovations and ethical standards to better support the mental health of youth populations in Japan, Taiwan, and beyond in a post-pandemic world.

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