Sept. 10 marked World Suicide Prevention Day and this year the support network TELL has organized two different activities to help raise awareness of mental health issues in Japan.
First is the , which lasts from today until World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10. The challenge, which also took place last year, involves taking 21,007 ¡°steps¡± in an area or activity of your choice. This could be anything from walking 21,007 steps to writing a story that¡¯s 21,007 characters in length ¡ª just be sure to sign up and share your efforts.
The key detail here is the number. Last year, Japan lost 21,007 lives to suicide, so TELL¡¯s event is in commemoration of those individuals who have passed.
For those in the capital, TELL is holding a second event on Oct. 1 and 2 ¡ª the , an old favorite.
The climb sold-out and raised a total of ?5 million when it was last held by TELL back in 2019. The NPO has had to postpone the challenge for the past few years in accordance with recommended measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Guidelines have relaxed slightly this year, enabling the event to take place, but the pandemic continues to take its toll on mental health. TELL hopes that by bringing back both events, it can help even more people who are in need.
Whether you choose to do the climb on your own or in a team, this is also an opportunity to scale the 600 steps that lead to the top of one of the most iconic landmarks in the city.
TELL was founded in 1973 as an English-speaking alternative to , a Japanese-language helpline. Since then, the organization has grown to provide its services in multiple languages via the telephone, online and in-person.
For more information on TELL and its upcoming events, visit .
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