Compared to most countries, Japan has an excellent social welfare safety net, but there are gaps where family is expected to pick up the slack, or individuals are expected to deal with problems on their own. Over 25,000 people die by suicide in Japan every year, which represents a significant decline from the over 32,000 of five years ago, but nonetheless exacts a terrible toll on society, and on the family, friends and colleagues of the victims.
In 1973, TELL was founded as an English-language lifeline for Japan’s international residents, many of whom found it difficult to access mental health services in Japanese. Some 42 years later, the lifeline has served many tens of thousands, and we have expanded to offer a wide range of clinical counseling services. What may surprise you is that around 60 percent of callers to our lifeline are Japanese. In large part this is because mental health is one of the “gaps” in the social welfare net here.
In many countries, there is significant stigma surrounding mental health problems, and only around 25 percent of those who experience a mental health issue reach out for support. One of the most significant barriers is the fear of being judged negatively, and that is especially true in the workplace, where many people are reluctant to show weakness.
This year, World Suicide Prevention Day falls on September 10, with the theme: ‘Suicide Prevention: Reaching Out and Saving Lives’, and TELL is continuing and expanding our Talkie Walkie program, begun last year. A Talkie Walkie is simply a walk (you can organize one, or join someone else’s), and a chance to talk, and remember lives that have been lost.
How does walking and talking save lives? Well, research has shown that “connectedness” provides valuable protection against suicide. Positive relationships–with family members, teachers, co-workers, community organizations, and social institutions–can help increase a person’s sense of belonging, foster a sense of personal worth, and provide access to sources of support. For most people, help involves a combination of approaches, but unquestionably, strong, positive relationships with others can be protective and prevent against suicidal thoughts and behavior.
This September 10, why not mark World Suicide Prevention Day by walking and talking with friends and colleagues? Last year we had walks in Yokohama, Yokosuka and Tokyo. For details on how to organize your own Talkie Walkie, or join one that someone else is organizing, see the TELL website.
Roberto De Vido is executive director of TELL, responsible for leading the organization’s fundraising efforts and overseeing its Lifeline and counseling services.