It is no secret that Japan as a nation struggles with mental health and suicide. Particularly during high-stress seasons of the year, suicide prevention measures become critical for people living in Japan. This could in part be due to the fact that poor mental health and discussions around common illnesses like depression and anxiety are a cultural taboo. Japan’s community-oriented culture is a beautiful thing, and something that many residents love. But the pressures of conforming to ‘the group’ at large or risking standing out can be taxing on our mental health. While foreigners, especially those immediately perceived to be 外国人 (foreigner) based on physical appearance, are often given more social freedom than the average Japanese, standing out 24/7 in a country where you are and always will be an ‘other’ isn’t always a delightful experience either.
Table of Contents
- Suicide Prevention Hotlines in Japan
- Counseling and Therapy Service in Tokyo
- Government Support Services
While, sadly, we now anticipate annual suicide prevention messages on various train lines in Japan, the general public opinion is often quite negative. Some commuters have become so jaded that they will even complain about the victim making them late. And quickly enough, it seems like everyone has forgotten and moved on. But current events this year have kept the discussion going, with celebrity deaths shocking fans and reminding us all of the many who have been lost. If there is one light at the end of this, I hope that it is a continuation of this discussion with a focus on holding on and finding support.
In the majority of cases, people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts do have mixed feelings about these ideas. Rather than wanting to die specifically, most people are simply looking for an end to their suffering and see death as a viable solution. Even just talking about these feelings can help a great deal and bring people the realization that their suffering will not last forever and that there are reasons, big and small, to keep living.
In that vein, we have created a short list of mental health resources:
Suicide Pevention Hotlines in Japan
TELL Japan
TELL Japan is a non-profit organization dedicated to responding to mental health needs, including suicide. They manage an online chat service as well as Lifeline, a free, confidential support service over the phone.
Lifeline: 03-5774-0992 (9:00 am–11:00 pm)
Chat: https://telljp.com/lifeline/tell-chat/ (Fri–Sun, 10:30 pm–2:00 am)
Website: https://telljp.com/lifeline/ (English)
Suicide Prevention Resources:
https://telljp.com/lifeline/suicide-prevention/
Befrienders Worldwide
This organization has members around the world ready to provide free, confidential support to anyone experiencing emotional distress. There are quite a few centers throughout Japan, each with their own phone number and website. All websites and phone services are in Japanese only. You can also access important information in the language of your choice by searching by country at the top-left of the international website.
Phone: 03-5286-9090
Japan website: https://www.befrienders-jpn.org/
International website (English): https://www.befrienders.org/
Suicide Prevention Resources:
https://www.befrienders.org/listening-skills
https://www.befrienders.org/helping-a-friend
https://www.befrienders.org/warning-signs
Counseling and Therapy Services in Tokyo
TELL Japan
In addition to their crisis hotlines, TELL Japan also helps connect people to counselors and therapists. With their flexible pricing option, TELL can help accommodate households with limited financial resources.
Counseling: 03-4550-1146 (English); 03-4550-1147 (Japanese)
both Mon–Fri, 10:00 am–3:00 pm
Tokyo Mental Health
The Tokyo Mental Health Clinic in Shintomicho, Chuo is another mental health practice geared towards the foreign community. They have a strong roster of clinicians and therapists specializing in different disorders and therapies with reasonable pricing. Each clinician and therapist also offers services in a variety of languages (including English) which means individuals seeking help have the option of using their native language. Most importantly, Tokyo Mental Health offers their services online.
Website: https://www.tokyomentalhealth.com/tokyo-counseling/ (English)
Government Support Services
Himawari Medical Information Service
This center serves to help share information with the international community in Japan about medical information and resources. Their website helps English, Chinese, and Korean speakers to find the right pharmacies and doctors depending on the health concern. The telephone service staff (who speak Japanese, English, Chinese, Thai, Korean, and Spanish) are extremely helpful and non-judgmental and can connect you to a mental health professional in the greater Tokyo area.
Phone: 03-5285-8181 (9am – 8pm)
Website: http://www.himawari.metro.tokyo.jp/qq13/qqport/tomintop/
Your Local Ward Office
The ward offices all over Japan also takes steps towards suicide prevention. They have helpful resources on suicide prevention and can connect you to organizations that can offer different types of support.
Each ward office offers assistance in Japanese as well as other languages including English, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and more. And consultations can be done over the phone or in-person. However, available languages differ by ward and by the time and day of the week. You can check our guide for Tokyo’s special wards to see what’s available in your area.
*If you are experiencing a crisis, please contact any of the suicide prevention hotlines indicated above. If you are considering seeing a mental health professional, TELL and Tokyo Mental Health have multilingual clinicians and therapists who specialize in a variety of mental disorders.
Living difficulties can often be a source of mental anguish. The Tokyo Life offers free and easy-to-understand resources that can help you adjust to your new life in Japan better.
