A Systematic Scoping Review of Various Interventions for Socially Withdrawn Individuals or Hikikomori.

Background: Social isolation and/or withdrawal is a growing concern, with significant implications for mental health, social development, and overall well-being. The term ‘hikikomori’ is a term originating from Japan that is used to describe individuals who are socially withdrawn for at least 6 months. Addressing the outreach and intervention approaches for socially withdrawn individuals is crucial to improve their quality of life and facilitate their reintegration into society. Various interventions have been implemented in the community to reach out and support socially withdrawn individuals in Singapore and other countries. This project aims to conduct a scoping review to understand the various interventions carried out. Objectives: The primary objective of this scoping review is to map and understand the various outreach and treatment approaches for socially withdrawn individuals. Specifically, it aims to: 1. Identify different outreach strategies aimed at engaging socially withdrawn individuals. 2. Identify and understand the various treatment or intervention modalities used with socially withdrawn individuals. 3. Determine the key characteristics and components of these interventions. 4. Identify gaps and areas in interventions that might need to be addressed. 5. Provide recommendations for best practices in outreach and treatment approaches.