The social implementation of cutting-edge technologies aimed at elucidating and alleviating high stress levels among children and young people is expected to raise a variety of issues. These include challenges related to the governance of emerging technologies, appropriate care and protection for affected individuals and stakeholders, the broader societal impact of introducing new biomarkers (e.g., potential effects on insurance systems and social evaluation), and the management of excessively high public expectations. In addition, there is a need to carefully consider how such technologies may influence stigma, self-perception, and decision-making in real-world settings. Therefore, it is essential to systematically address the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) and principles of responsible research and innovation (RRI) inherent in both the development and utilization of these technologies. In this study, we will extract and organize ELSI/RRI issues using a combination of complementary analytical approaches.

In fiscal year 2025, we have been systematically identifying ELSI and RRI issues inherent in relevant technologies through a variety of methods. These include comprehensive reviews of prior domestic and international research, detailed analyses of the status of relevant legal systems and guidelines in Japan, quantitative media analysis, questionnaire surveys, and in-depth interviews. Particular attention has been paid to the differences between international discussions and Japan’s institutional, cultural, and social context regarding the potential ethical and social impacts that may arise when research findings on epigenetic markers and suicide/depression are presented to and utilized by society.

One particularly important study involved group interviews with a total of 32 participants, including individuals who had experienced mental health issues during childhood and parents who had raised such children. These interviews provided rich qualitative insights into perceptions of risk communication, acceptability of biomarker-based information, and concerns regarding unintended consequences.
Based on this series of surveys and studies, this project has developed ethical and behavioral guidelines that encompass the entire process from the research stage to the stage of societal implementation. Rather than presenting abstract ethical principles for handling research findings and biological indicators, these guidelines are organized from a practical and action-oriented perspective, addressing key questions such as: “What information should be shared? With whom? At what stage? And in what manner?” Furthermore, efforts have been made to present these guidelines in formats that are accessible and easily understandable to the general public, thereby facilitating better visualization and shared understanding.