TELL: Mental Health Support in Japan

by TELL

Project Report | Aug 25, 2026
Thank you from TELL: Mental Health in Japan

By Laurel Pegler | Lifeline Training Coordinator

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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May 7, 2026
Thank you from TELL: Mental Health in Japan

By Yuliia Chekhovska | Lead Outreach Coordinator

Jan 8, 2026
Thank you from TELL: Mental Health in Japan

By Yuliia Chekhovska | Lead Outreach Coordinator

Dear Friend,

Prioritizing and maintaining mental health can be challenging. Many potential barriers exist, such as cost, language, stigma, and even our own beliefs about how we should cope. Mental health challenges can lead to loneliness and isolation, which can lead to depression, and in some cases, suicide.

Suicide remains one of the most preventable causes of death in the world. According to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, 20,320 lives were lost to suicide in 2024 - approximately 56 deaths every day. While the overall trend is slowly declining, Japan experienced a record-high 529 suicides among minors last year. Suicide is also the leading cause of death for people aged 15-39 in Japan.

TELL is here for the community. Whether through anonymous conversations on the Lifeline, ongoing support via our counseling services, or community outreach events and workshops, we remain committed to being a consistent source of care, as we have been for over 53 years. Our goal is not only to sustain these services, but to continue expanding them - through increased Lifeline availability, improved access to counseling, and outreach programs that reach communities across Japan. We are especially proud that the TELL Lifeline is now toll-free, further reducing barriers to access.

By supporting TELL, you are directly supporting this vision.

Through the year of 2025, together we achieved:

• 11,330 Lifeline sessions, a 20% increase from 2024
• 12,199 counseling sessions, an 8% increase from 2024
• 130 community workshops, events, and trainings, reaching more than 7,268 participants nationwide

The demand for direct mental health support through counseling and the Lifeline grew significantly underscoring the continued and increasing need for accessible mental health services.

We could not do this work without you. Your generosity has made a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and families across Japan.

As we move into 2026, TELL remains deeply committed to strengthening mental health support for Japan’s international and multicultural communities, ensuring that language, culture, or background are never barriers to care.

From all of us at TELL, thank you for standing with us and for being part of our mission to provide mental health support and prevent suicide in Japan.

With much appreciation,
The TELL Team

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