TELL: Mental Health Support in Japan

Dear friend,

Last year, the number of deaths by suicide in Japan was the lowest since records began in the 1970s, a reminder that when there is investment in support, awareness and prevention, change is possible.

Yet the loss of 19,188 lives to suicide - including 538 young people and children -  shows us that there is still much work to be done. TELL is committed to doing this work, through providing essential mental health services to the community, via our Lifeline, counselling services, and community engagement.

Over the first half of this year, our Lifeline received 6,181 contacts, a 15% increase on the same period last year. We are responding to this increased need for support by growing our volunteer base, allowing us to be there for more people when they need to talk. So far this year, 51 people have joined our volunteer training program.

During the same period, our counselling services provided 6,077 sessions.

We also held 74 outreach events, workshops and activities across Japan, including direct community engagement  in Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Kyushu, Hokkaido and Okinawa, in addition to online events. We have provided suicide prevention training, engaged with schools and universities, and connected with the community at regular events. Each of these has helped us to build connections, raise awareness of the services and support that are available, and tackle the stigma that persists around mental health.

Moving forward, our goal remains to strengthen mental health support, awareness, and suicide prevention efforts in Japan. As we strive to ensure that nobody needs to struggle alone, your support helps us to be there for anyone who needs us. From all of us at TELL, thank you for making a difference.

With gratitude,

The TELL Team

Links:

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