Finding mental health support in Japan can involve several types of services, including emotional support, counseling, psychotherapy, psychiatry, and LGBTQ+ peer support. This guide covers practical options for LGBTQ+ people in Japan, with particular attention to services available in English.
These resources are designed for different needs. Some offer professional treatment, while others provide emotional support, consultation, or peer support. Not every resource offers English support, so the available language is listed for each service.
If you are in immediate danger or cannot stay safe, use Japan’s emergency services.
If You Need Urgent Help Now
🗣 If you are facing a medical emergency in Japan, call 119 for an ambulance. Call 110 for the police in a police emergency. Use these services when you need immediate emergency help.
TELL Lifeline also provides free emotional support by phone and chat for people in Japan. TELL Lifeline is available in English, and its support workers receive training that includes LGBTQ+ issues. TELL also provides separate professional counseling services.
TELL’s Lifeline is not a replacement for emergency services. If you cannot stay safe, TELL directs people in Japan to call 119 for an ambulance or 110 for the police. Phone and chat availability can change, so check TELL’s current service hours before contacting the Lifeline.
Mental Health Resources
The services below cover different types of support. This is a selective guide, not a complete directory of mental health services in Japan. Each resource is included because it offers a distinct type of support or has clear relevance to LGBTQ+ readers.
Check the language information before making contact, as not every service is available in English.
| Resource | Support type/ when to use it | Language | Access | LGBTQ+ relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TELL | Crisis/ emotional support. TELL also provides professional counseling | English confirmed for Lifeline | Phone and chat for people in Japan. Separate counseling service | Lifeline workers receive training that includes LGBTQ+ issues |
| Tokyo Mental Health | Therapy & psychiatry | English confirmed | Counseling and psychotherapy in Tokyo, Okinawa and online. Psychiatry is a separate service | Some clinicians specifically list experience working with LGBTQ+ clients |
| IMHPJ | Find a professional | Varies by professional | Search individual member profiles and professionals currently accepting clients | LGBTQ-related experience depends on the individual professional |
| Counseling LAB SORA | Counseling | Japanese | Face-to-face counseling in Osaka and online | Explicitly welcomes queer/ LGBTQ+ people and sexuality-related consultations |
| Pride House Tokyo Legacy | LGBTQ+ consultation | English not verified | LGBTQ+ life-support chat consultation | LGBTQ+ specific |
| Colourful Heart | Peer support | English confirmed | Tokyo-based peer meetings. Check the current schedule | LGBTQ+/ queer peer support. Facilitators are peers, not professional counselors or psychiatrists |
TELL (Tokyo English Life Line)
TELL Lifeline offers free English phone and chat support to people in Japan who are experiencing emotional distress, including suicidal thoughts. Its support workers receive training in a range of issues, including LGBTQ+ issues.
The Lifeline provides emotional support rather than emergency treatment. If you cannot stay safe, TELL directs you to call 119 for an ambulance or 110 for the police.
TELL also operates a separate professional counseling service. This is different from the Lifeline. Access and availability can change, so check TELL’s website before contacting the service.
Tokyo Mental Health
Tokyo Mental Health provides counseling and psychotherapy in English. Its current service information covers access in Tokyo, Okinawa and online.
The organization also has a separate psychiatry service. Counseling and psychiatry may have different locations and access conditions, so check the details for the specific service you need.
Some Tokyo Mental Health clinicians specifically list experience working with LGBTQ+ clients. For example, counselor Hunter Soileau lists specialized experience working with LGBTQ+ individuals. This does not mean that every Tokyo Mental Health clinician has the same specialist experience.
Check the current service pages for details about available clinicians and treatment options.
International Mental Health Professionals Japan (IMHPJ)
The International Mental Health Professionals Japan (IMHPJ) is a professional organization and directory. It does not provide therapy itself.
Its website allows users to search for mental health professionals in Japan, including professionals who are currently accepting clients.
Language, location, online access, qualifications, and LGBTQ-related experience vary by professional. Check the individual profile before making contact.
Counseling LAB SORA
Counseling LAB SORA provides professional counseling in Osaka and online. Its counseling room is in Osaka City, and both face-to-face and online counseling are available.
The service explicitly welcomes consultations from queer and LGBTQ+ people. It also covers topics including sexuality, relationships, family, and stress.
The service currently states that counseling is provided in spoken Japanese only. Written communication is also available. According to the current service information, English-language counseling is not offered.
Pride House Tokyo Legacy
Pride House Tokyo Legacy provides LGBTQ+ life-support chat consultation for people experiencing distress, anxiety, or difficulties in their daily lives.
This is an LGBTQ+-specific consultation service. It is not presented here as psychotherapy or professional counseling.
English availability for the current consultation has not been verified. Check the latest information before using the service.
Colourful Heart
Colourful Heart is a Tokyo-based peer-support organization for LGBTQ+ people with mental health issues, neurodevelopmental disorders and/or addiction-related concerns. It runs group meetings where participants can talk about their experiences and support each other.
English-language meetings are currently listed. Check the current English page for the latest meeting details before attending, as dates and locations can change.
The meetings are peer-led rather than professional mental health treatment. Colourful Heart states that its facilitators are peers, not professional counselors or psychiatrists.
More LGBTQ+ Support in Japan
Mental health support is only one type of help you may need. If you are looking for other LGBTQ+ services in Japan, these guides cover different areas.
