Make A Difference: Help Stop Youth Suicide - Japan

Conversations about mental health have become more acceptable. However, for those seeking support, barriers still exist. Despite wanting to seek help, people still struggle to know who to turn to. In addition, particularly in this volatile economy, the cost of access prevents people from connecting with the support they need. In fact, more than the stigma surrounding mental health, it is these practical limitations that can make difference between receiving support or struggling alone.

Thanks to the generous support from your donations, you have helped remove one of these barriers, allowing TELL to provide ongoing TOLL FREE SERVICE. Your support has contributed to more people reaching out and receiving the help they need. Over the past year, the Lifeline has fielded 20% more calls from people struggling with loneliness, despair and anxiety. It is common to hear our users say “Thank you so much for being here and for the TOLL FREE SERVICE. I don’t know who I would talk to if it weren’t for you.” As much as this gladdens us to hear, the thanks actually should be directed to you and your generosity.

We have also seen a similar 16% increase in volume from younger users. Young adults face many challenges and are a particularly vulnerable population. In fact, in Japan, though the overall number of suicides has decreased slightly over the years, the suicide rate for this population continues to climb and in 2024, deaths by suicide among school age individuals was the highest it has ever been. Though there is still a preference among young adults to use chat services, many need to reach out in moments of acute crisis to receive immediate support and to connect directly with another human being. For these individuals, finding a safe place to talk about their struggles is important, and TELL has directed efforts toward helping these young people know that the Lifeline is here to support them.

To help increase awareness of the TELL Lifeline, TELL has been conducting school visits. Over the past several months, TELL has raised awareness of the Lifeline and directly engaged with over 300 students. We have also launched an SNS campaign targeted toward young adults and the mental health issues commonly experienced by them—loneliness, depression and anxiety (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHPfYVfyQVZ/?igsh=MWJ2MjlzY21mZjJuYw==). This campaign has been successful and has already reached over 700 people in its first few weeks. Please help us expand this even further and have a look at our Reels and sharing the content with others who feel the same way you do about the importance of mental health!

However, these initiatives are only part of the solution. Though they raise awareness of the Lifeline, and help start the conversations about the reluctance of young people to reach out for the help they need, the Lifeline still needs your help to keep the service accessible and TOLL FREE. With your continued support, we can ensure that when people do reach out for help, we are here to listen.

Links:

• Intrusive Thoughts