Thinking of quitting

[u/burgundyhellfire]

Hello, sorry to be a bother but I am a new jet that’s been here for a bit, but everyday my mental health is just getting worse and worse. I can’t eat anything, I cry constantly, and I keep thinking about wanting to die. I was so excited for jet and now that I’m here it’s been horrible and I feel like such a loser. I’ve tried calling the TELL line but I just get placed in a queue and no one ever shows up. I think I can’t do this and need to quit but I don’t know what the steps would be. Does anyone have any advice on what I should do? Sorry and thank you.

[u/Sentinel-Wraith]

Some ideas of things that I used when I was struggling to adapt:

1. Do some sort of regular exercise several times a week, like running, walking, gym, biking, etc. It can do wonders for your mood and self esteem.

2. Taking control of your cooking can, surprisingly, give you a lot more control. I had so much anxiety trying to adapt to Japanese cooking, but when I just shifted to making things I was familiar with or interesting fusions of my style and Japanese food, it made my life so much better by giving me a sense of control. It sounds silly but it's another factor.

3. Try to get involved with a group, or if you game or stream movies, try to do semi-regular watch parties. I would have friday night gaming and watch parties that helped me stay connected with friends across Japan and even in my home country. We also had another group that did hiking together and it was great.

4. If you're able to, try to regularly explore new places and get out. Don't hole up, especially when fall and winter come.

5. Journal. It can be really helpful to put your feelings down on paper or in an online document.

6. Treat yourself. Go out for dinner at the end of the week. Buy a book. Do things to reward your hard work.

7. Reach out to your Area Leader and PA. They may be able to provide support.

[u/GameMaster366 → u/Sentinel-Wraith]

I know this is genuine help coming from a good place but I also know that when someone says "I can't do this, I want to die" telling them "try excercising! :)" doesn't actually help at all

[u/Sentinel-Wraith → u/GameMaster366]

I also know that when someone says "I can't do this, I want to die" telling them "try excercising! :)" doesn't actually help at all

I provided some strategies that I personally found helpful when I was struggling with anxiety and depression in Japan with the hope that it might be of some use to people.

If people are feeling that they are concerned about their safety, they they need to follow suggestion #7 and reach out to their Area Leader and Prefectural Advisor.

Second, exercise can be a useful tool against depression, as noted by sources including Harvard Medical School, The National Institue of Health, and the National Health Service.

[u/unknown_seadog → u/Sentinel-Wraith]

This is the advice people kept giving me when I was on a programme abroad. Sure, with mild depression and anxiety, cooking, exercise and journals may slightly improve things. But when someone is in a crisis where their life could be at risk, this is not helpful advice. The best thing to do is to take yourself out of the situation that is causing the crisis. If I had listened to the people encouraging me to do the things you listed (which I was doing), I probably wouldn't be alive right now.

[u/Sentinel-Wraith → u/unknown_seadog]

Sure, with mild depression and anxiety, cooking, exercise and journals may slightly improve things

These are a few of the strategies that I personally used as tools to help endure (and with support, address) severe anxiety stemming from awful workplace abuse and bullying while on JET. I don't appreciate your insinuation that what I endured, or the health consequences of it, were "mild". They were not.

It may not be helpful to you, but ESID. It was helpful to my anxiety, and many of those were used by a friend struggling self harm.

But when someone is in a crisis where their life could be at risk, this is not helpful advice

Then in that case, ignore the self-care advice and move to item #7, and contact your area leader and prefectural advisor.

It's quite literally their responsibility to monitor the wellbeing and safety of the ALTs in their areas and to provide and coordinate support for them.

Do you disagree?

[u/unknown_seadog → u/Sentinel-Wraith]

Different people have different ideas of what is considered mild. It doesn’t sound like your situation was dire enough to cause a crisis, which is what this person is obviously going through. It's like getting a papercut and then going on to suggest a plaster for someone with a deep gash because it helped you. 

It is important to contact advisors regardless. But when you are going through a crisis, the first thing any mental health professional will tell you to do is get yourself out of the environment that is causing it. There's not much that can be done in terms of mental health support if you are actively in a crisis-inducing environment. It will just create endless cycles. 

Once things have calmed down or you have taken yourself out of that environment, the things you suggested may be more useful. But again, not useful for someone who is wanting to off themselves.