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Mind & Soul Directory

You are not alone. Find support that speaks your language.

TELL Japan

Online

Crisis support and counseling hotline.

English
Free (Hotline)
Non-profitCrisis

Tokyo Mental Health

Online

Professional psychiatric care and therapy.

English, Japanese
¥10,000+
ClinicalPsychiatry

Yorisoi Hotline

Online

Multilingual helpline for foreigners in Japan.

English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Nepali
Free
GovernmentMultilingual

BetterHelp (Global)

Online

Global online therapy platform.

English
$65/week
AppConvenient

Frequently Asked Questions

TELL Japan is the primary resource for English mental health support in Japan, offering both a helpline and referrals to licensed English-speaking therapists nationwide. Tokyo Counseling Services and iCounselor also maintain rosters of bilingual therapists and offer online sessions, making them accessible from anywhere in Japan. The TELL directory covers psychologists, counselors, and psychiatrists who work regularly with the foreign community in Japan.
Psychiatry consultations with a licensed medical doctor (seishinka or shinkei naika) are covered by Japan's health insurance system, meaning you pay the standard 30% copay. However, counseling sessions with psychologists or licensed clinical social workers are almost never covered by health insurance in Japan, and typically cost between ¥5,000 and ¥15,000 per 50-minute session. For cost-effective mental health support, a psychiatrist referral under insurance is often the first step.
TELL (Tokyo English Lifeline) operates Japan's primary English-language mental health crisis and support line at 03-5774-0992, available daily from 9AM to 11PM. They also offer an online chat service for those who prefer written communication. The TELL Lifeline is available to anyone living in Japan regardless of nationality, visa status, or mental health crisis severity, and all contacts are completely confidential.
Japanese law requires companies with 50 or more employees to conduct annual stress checks (stress chekku) and provide consultation resources. If your workplace mental health resources are inadequate, the Prefectural Labour Bureau offers free and confidential consultation services in major cities. TELL Japan and AMDA also provide mental health referral services specifically for foreign workers experiencing job-related stress in Japan.
Foreigners seeking mental health support in Japan face several layered challenges: a strong cultural stigma around mental illness that can make Japanese colleagues or landlords unsympathetic, a critical shortage of English-speaking licensed therapists outside Tokyo and Osaka, and a Japanese therapeutic tradition that often emphasizes behavioral adjustment over emotional processing. Additionally, many Japanese psychiatrists prescribe medication as the primary treatment rather than talk therapy, which may not match your expectations or needs.

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