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The Tokyo Tower Climb returns in October. Will you step to the challenge?

By on August 29, 2022

After community fundraising activities were disrupted by the pandemic, TELL returns with the Tokyo Tower Climb in conjunction with the Step Up Challenge!

In 2021, 856 participants took over 7 million steps to support suicide awareness and mental health in Japan as part of the TELL Step Up Challenge. It is expected that more participants will join this year. Will you rise to the challenge?

The last few years of COVID have taken a toll on people’s mental health globally as people’s ability to connect and get together has been disrupted. The World Health Organization found that in 2020 alone, there was a 25% global increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression. Here in Japan, the past two years have seen an increase in the suicide rates for the first time in over a decade, with over 40,0000 people dying by suicide in the two-year period, more than those lost to COVID. Sadly this includes an increase in youth suicide deaths. Talking about mental health, shattering the stigma surrounding this topic, and breaking down the barriers to access services and support has never been more important. This is something each of us can play an active role in.

For almost 50 years, TELL has been supporting the mental health needs of the international community. Through its upcoming Step Up Challenge and Tokyo Tower Climb events, businesses, schools, community organizations, individuals, and more are urged to join the discussion about mental health issues. Participating in one or both of the events will help to shatter the stigma around mental health and suicide.  Every step you take can help save a life.

The Step Up Challenge will run from September 10 (World Suicide Prevention Day) to October 10 (World Mental Health Day), and the Tokyo Tower Climb will be held on Saturday, October the 1st (Corporate participants) and Sunday, October 2nd (School and Community participants).

The Step Up Challenge is an open invitation to people from all over Japan and the world to walk 21,007 steps to honor the 21,007 lives we lost to suicide in 2021.

You can do it alone or create a team of up to four people, pick a date between September 10 and October 10, and start walking! Although it is a walking challenge, it is open to creative interpretation – people have found many beautiful ways to support our cause.

The Tokyo Tower Climb is open to 700 participants across two days. The event will take place at Tokyo Tower, with the possibility of winning three categories: the community cup, the corporate cup, and the school cup.

Step Up Challenge:
Adult: ¥1,500
Kids (12 Years Old and Under): Free
Team: ¥6,000

Tokyo Tower Climb:
Adult: ¥4,000
Child: ¥2,500 (4 – 13 Years Old)
Corporate Cup Team: ¥15,000 (maximum 4 people)
School Cup: ¥12,000 (maximum 4 people)

All proceeds will support TELL in helping to address the growing mental health care needs of Japan’s international community by continuing to provide free phone and chat crisis support, professional face-to-face counseling, and community-wide education programs.

For further information on these events and to register for the Step Up challenge or the Tokyo Tower Climb, please visit www.tellevents.org. For sponsorship opportunities, please email development@telljp.com.

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