Japan has a suicide rate of about 33000 a year, it's really crazy, people are so sick from stress, economic reason, etc,. Japanese government try to stop this, then they made a campaign GKB48 for March. GKB47 stands for gatekeeper basic, it means each 47 prefectures set professional section or persons who work as gatekeeper / counselor for people. But the government back down that campaign because poeple complained to it coz GKB47 is apparently named from Japanese girls group AKB48 and actually they used AKB48 as champaing charactor! Yes too, silly who can take this is serious project.
But each local government or each companies are making efforts to reduce it on each service. For example Tokyo METRO set protection door on platform of stations, JR Mito set blue LED light to each railroad crossing. They said they had 16 -21 suicide case a year before, but they didn't have it at this blue light crossing. maybe the light will have power to calm down people's heart.
That is interesting about the using of the blue LEDs. In the psychology of color (use) it is often said that blue is very calming. I'm not sure how well that would relate to lowering the suicide rate, but it probably helps with calming people from making impulsive decisions (like jumping in front of the trains!)
Anyway, I lurk and read your blog I just don't comment much.
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Posted by: corsetkitten | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 09:44 PM