2025 TELL Legends
This year, TELL would like to recognise Rev Yukio Saito and Graham Harris as our 2025 Legends. This award recognises individuals who have shown excellence in their work, inspired others, and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the organisation’s vision of zero suicides.
This month we honour – Reverand Saito – 1936 – 2025
Rev Saito stood as the Director or Chairman of many NPOs and psychology bodies, wrote numerous articles and books on suicide prevention, and fought hard for changes to be made at the government level. In 1997, he received the International Ringer Award for his contributions to suicide prevention activities. In 2001, he succeeded in Japan’s first white paper on suicide prevention and in 2012, he received the Blue Ribbon Medal.
For TELL, he stood as one of our founding fathers, helping to start TELL and serving as the Director and a board member of Inochi no Denwa from 1974 to 2002, before becoming the Director of the Federation of Inochi no Denwa. He was always there to help any new director understand the challenges unique to Japan, show us where we started in the Lutheran centre, introduce us to potential supporters or key bodies in the community and bridge a connection with the Federation.
Over his many years of service, he watched Inochi no denwa grow to include over 50 affiliated centres with more than 6,000 volunteers nationwide, handling over 600,000 connections each year. Every time we pick up a phone call, answer an email, or chat, we offer hope, care and connection. In doing so, we are all continuing the important work of our founding fathers, like Reverend Saito and honouring their commitment and passion to ensuring everyone makes it to the next day. His memory and work continue through all of us and have a ripple effect on those we speak or chat to on our Lifeline.
Reverend Saito is an inspiration to many in our community and a TELL Legend.