Mirrors Help Deter Suicide Leaps? Rising numbers of Japanese suicides (attributable to the economic downturn in what many consider one of the world’s most stressful societies) are a headache for Japanese railway companies, since leaping in front of trains is a favored way to go. ‘East Japan Railway Co, which reported 212 suicides at its stations last year, will set up large, adult-sized mirrors opposite platforms

hoping this will deter potential leapers.

“Specialists say it makes it difficult for a person to jump if they think someone is looking, say from the opposite platforms,” said a

spokesman for JR East.

“We hope the mirrors will serve a similar effect,” he said. “When a train stops after someone has jumped, we get many angry complaints from other passengers,” he said.’