Family Fines for Suicide

[Ryuzaki]

Japan has the world's highest suicide rate. 95% of all suicides are committed by jumping in front of the trains from the platform. These suicides cause delays on the "very efficient" train lines. But the families are then charged or sued by the railway companies to compensate for the trouble caused by the accident. A typical suicide may cause delays between one and a few hours on one or more lines. The costs to the surviving families by the railway companies' "delay fee" is often in the $100,000 range. Do you think these fines are reasonable? Thoughts in general?

[boogieknight]

The train folks may be considered jerks, but they have a point. If it really is such a problem, there is only so much they can do to prevent suicides, and some action has to be taken. Hopefully, it may encourage the family of a potentially suicidal person to do something like commit the person. Or a more piggish response would be for people to find a new way to commit suicide.

[~Flonnedre Scarlet~]

I don't understand why some people are committing suicides that it's more like a natural way of ending it all - and jumping out to the front of the running trains? Good lord... Though the train folks can be considered jerks, they also take the responsibility for the deaths of those civilians.

If they're so serious about committing suicide, then I think it's much better that their families help comfort them in whatever they're experiencing first to prevent more suicide attempts in the future?

[thetragicprince]

May 14, 2009 21:01:43 GMT -5 ~Flonnedre Scarlet~ said:

I don't understand why some people are committing suicides that it's more like a natural way of ending it all - and jumping out to the front of the running trains? Good lord... Though the train folks can be considered jerks, they also take the responsibility for the deaths of those civilians.

If they're so serious about committing suicide, then I think it's much better that their families help comfort them in whatever they're experiencing first to prevent more suicide attempts in the future?

sadly my friend its not that easy some people are just selfish that way and wont think of others before themselves
people in that state of mind will often of course be experiencing some deep issues and talking about it may not help as in most times its related to stress to some people sometimes ending soon is the best answer even if it is wrong that way of thinking is hard to change

and as for the question what?! 100.000 thats insane I agree with you boogieknight as in how some action should be taken but fining people is the stupidest way they could go about it if nothing itll only raise the suicide rates by far more afterall debts is a major factor in stress

[whyerd]

The railways would need to prove it was the family's fault that the person died, and did not do everything to prevent the sad event. That would be hard to prove, as those with depression don't always tell those around them that they are depressed and planning in killing themselves.

Maybe this is a sign, in which the railways should invest in mental health services. They and others should try to make it culturally acceptable to seek help when feeling helpless. If people were properly taught how to manage mental health, it would significantly decrease the amounts of suicides.

Again these fines might be an attempt to scare people from killing themselves, as well as trying to regain from the loss of business because of the suicides. It probably wouldn't work, as suicide is a very selfish act in which people rarely think how it would effect others.

If you don't mind me asking, what is the common belief about why so many people kill themselves in Japan? Is there some truth in the stereotype which they feel they need to be perfect otherwise they fail in life, so they might as well end it before it gets worse?

[boogieknight]

Why the hell should the burden be put on the train company? It's not like they are selling a service that puts people at extrordinary risk. People dying is what they actually want to avoid! Is it possible for new regulations and safety features that would make suicide by train harder, possibly, and I imagine that such potential solutions are being considered in terms of effectiveness and viability.

The people running the trains... they're strangers to those who commit suicide. Maybe there are cases in which the family had no idea or truly couldn't prevent it, but they are the primary support!

[whyerd]

I didn't mean to put that statement as it's the train company's responsablity. I just said it as a way they can possibly try to stop losses. Then again, it's in effective if people believe that there's nothing that can help them so they should kill themselves.

Also, I feel like a fool in not thinking of safety devices or features that could prevent people from getting in front of the train.

Which again, I should watch what I write. I didn't want to say that the comanies were the ones at fualt, as it would be the people who killed themselves that decided that. I was upset in the fact that they are trying to seek relief from damages in a way I didn't agree with.