Prevent Youth Suicides In Japan

Earlier this year, we came to you with a funding request to support our efforts in preventing youth suicides in Japan. We are asking for your support in helping us to train more volunteer support workers for our Lifeline and Crisis Chat support service so we can increase our hours of service and support to young people in crisis.

We wanted to give you an update on the situation in Japan and our activities over the past few months. In 2019, the Japanese government announced that suicide is now the leading cause of death for young people aged 10 to 14 years of age, the highest number since the postwar period.  With 50% of all mental illnesses having their onset before 14 years of age and 75% by 24, awareness and education highlighting what mental illness looks like and how to best support a young person is vital. Sadly in March this year, two 12-year-old girls jumped together to their death due to bullying, because of the stigma, lack of services and understanding surrounding mental health issues in Japan. 

As we work towards our funding goal, TELL will continue to break down the barriers and fight against the stigma surrounding mental illness in Japan. In April TELL marched in the Tokyo Pride Festival and handed out information about crisis support for LGBTQIA+ youths. TELL also held numerous school awareness presentations across the country speaking to students about our services and mental illness. In May TELL screened the BBC documentary ‘Japan’s Secret Shame’ followed by a panel discussion on support services for survivors of sexual violence in Japan and on September 8th TELL will hold its 3rd Tokyo Tower Climb as part of our World Suicide Prevention day activities.

We hope you will consider supporting our project and work in Japan. Your donations matter and can make a real difference in a young person’s life. Together we make a difference, will you join TELL in our fight for zero suicide in Japan.