Kenzo Tanaka – TELL Mental Health Champion – #starttheconversation
TELL is proud to launch the third video in our inaugural Mental Health Champion series. TELL’s Mental Health Champions are people with lived experience of mental health challenges who are brave enough to speak up, share their stories, challenge stigma and discrimination in Japan, and offer hope to those who are struggling. Our third Mental Health Champion is a high school student in Japan and TEDX presenter Kenzo Tanaka. View the full interview here.
A recent report by The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health has found the mental health of young people has deteriorated significantly over the past two decades and is now at worrying levels. Mental health challenges are the leading cause of disability and poor life outcomes in young people. Half of all mental health issues in young people emerge by age 15, and 75% of issues develop by age 24, with anxiety and depression being the most common mental health issues. The report named several global megatrends driving psychological distress in young people, including growing intergenerational inequality, financial pressure, global instability and the rise of social media.
One of the best things a parent, teacher, or anyone working with young people can do is to recognise the possible warning signs of when a young person may need help and #starttheconversation
Some of these warning signs might be:
- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
- Changes in mood, including outbursts or extreme irritability
- Persistent sadness
- Losing interest in or withdrawing from activities they normally enjoy
- Starting or increasing substance use
- Hurting oneself or talking about hurting oneself
- Talking about death or suicide
- Frequent headaches or stomachaches
- Difficulty concentrating
- Changes in academic performance
- Avoiding or missing school.
When you see any of these signs, why not set aside some time to #starttheconversation by asking, “How are you doing?” This not only normalises talking about mental health but also opens the door for young people to share what is going on and get them connected to services and support sooner so they can continue to be their best selves.
Join TELL in starting the conversation. Buy a ¥1500 ticket and join our month-long Step Up Challenge. You have until October 10 to qualify for an award. Or you can donate to TELL to support our outreach, which includes but is not limited to providing toll-free service for our Lifeline.
Buy a ticket and take a walk. The Step Up Challenge is to walk 21,837 steps individually or as a group to honor the 21,837 lives lost to suicide in Japan in 2023. Aside from walking, TELL encourages participants to approach the challenge creatively by electing to do 21,837 of an activity you enjoy for 21,837 seconds or 6 hours 3 minutes. The possibilities are endless. You can walk, climb, swim, play video games, meditate, paint, and create. Be creative! Any activity incorporating the number 21,837 and involving conversations about mental health is eligible for the challenge! To register visit https://bit.ly/4f3sy5R.
TELL would like to give an enormous shout-out and thanks to all three of our mental health champions, Juri Watanabe, Diamond Yukai, and Kenzo Tanaka, who were brave enough to talk about their struggles and offer hope and encouragement to others. TELL would also like to say thank you, to the Wild Tame team who created the videos and to Lifeline International for their generous grant and support of our work in Japan.
Help us to create a world where there are zero suicides, and everyone has the skills to support people experiencing mental health problems.
If you or anyone you know is struggling, please reach out to our Lifeline either via our toll-free number 0800-300-8355 or you can chat with us at https://telljp.com/lifeline/ If you need to talk, we are here to listen. You are not alone.