Start the conversation!

From September 10, 2024 (World Suicide Prevention Day) through October 10, 2024 (World Mental Health Day).

Suicide remains a critical issue that impacts individuals and communities in Japan. To inspire positive change and tackle this uncomfortable but important topic, TELL focuses on Step-Up Challenge 2024 – a month-long, nationwide effort to #StartTheConversation.

WHO: Individuals, communities, schools, embassies, NGOs, and business organizations
WHAT: Take action (by yourself or with a team) using the number 21,837. (You can walk, run, bike, swim, climb, crochet, paint, talk, fundraise – get creative!)
WHERE: Anywhere in Japan or the world
WHEN: September 10 - October 10, 2024
WHY: To honor the 21,837 people who lost their lives to suicide in Japan in 2023.

HOW:
1) Register and buy a ￥1,500 TELL Step Up Ticket (eligible for trophies and swag). Tickets to be available on the TELL website from August 1, 2024. The first 500 ticket holders will receive swag.

2) Join a prescheduled TELL community walk (Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka) OR make your own walk by yourself or with friend or organize your company teams to compete for the trophies/awards (including most steps in a day, most funds raised, and most creative use of 21,837 number).

Compete with friends, family, business colleagues, and teammates, meet your community, and raise funds and awareness for suicide prevention and mental health care in Japan’s international community. Get your athletic shoes ready and save the dates! We can’t wait to see you there.

Message from tELL's Executive Director Royanne:

This year, we are moving our signature Tokyo Tower Climb event to Spring 2025. By separating the Tokyo Tower Climb and Step-up Challenge, we aim to:

1) Strive towards zero suicides in Japan.

2) Be part of a global effort to foster a meaningful conversation about suicide prevention between World Suicide Prevention Day and World Mental Health Awareness Day. Suicide prevention awareness month for Japan is only in the Spring and is more aligned with the Tower Climb which is held only in Tokyo.

3) Provide a month-long opportunity to provide suicide prevention-specific programming, workshops, and events across the nation and beyond. Join us in breaking the stigma around reaching out for help and #StartTheConversation about suicide prevention and mental health awareness.

Learn More About Step Up

What Does Start The Conversation Mean?

Use #StartTheConversation, #STEPUP2024 on Instagram, Meta, X, and LinkedIn to share your mental health walk with the TELL SNS community!