Understanding Syndrome... Hikikomori

It was suggested that Hikikomori in Japan is under-reported, Saito Tamaki, a psychiatrist estimated that it is about one million.

In the same line with suicide and mental illness, Hikikomori tend to be stigmatized. It has negative meanings which attached to the affected person, family members and neighborhood. It is contrary to a society which being well known as its social capital and support. Just as the 'shame' that was discussed earlier, or depicted with the teacher whom had a son that played tokokyohi, the hikikomori became more secluded, and more withdraw.

hiki　引き = Withdraw
komori 籠り= Cage

Hikikomori simply means, "Withdraw into a Cage"。
The symtoms itself sugest that these people are hiding. It is extremely hard to dig someone out when their intention is to hide from others. This make identification difficult.

How can we understand this syndrom better? Health promotion is challenged in this area, not only by the effectiveness of implementation, but even the point to start and what to be implement!