Pokémon GO helps clear up suicides in a place known for deaths in Japan

It's true that Pokémon GO has lost a lot of players for a variety of reasons since it was released, but the remnants have been doing much more than just continuing to capture augmented reality virtual creatures. In Japan, the game has even helped prevent deaths.

According to Rocket News, the constant presence of players in the Tojinbo cliff chain has so far prevented any suicide from being reported in the region - and the site is one of several places in the country chosen for this purpose by the Japanese.

Apart from a famous tourist spot, Tojinbo recorded 16 deaths in 2016. So far, in 2017, none has happened. And who guarantees this is the head of the local volunteer suicide prevention patrol, Yukio Shige. According to him, the rate had already decreased by the time the game came out, but only now it was possible to notice that the connection with Pokémon GO is not just coincidence.

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- ???? (@pikachuftt) September 6, 2016

Almost unintentionally

According to Shige, people tend not to consolidate suicide in busy places or where people are having fun. Therefore, the presence of groups of friends or parents and children hunting has been essential to remove this negative climate and bring a new atmosphere to Tojinbo.

The rate of people playing on the spot, even though not exactly accessible, is due to the frequent emergence of rare creatures. There are even those who spend the night there with their smartphone screen turned on - and that also helps Shige watch over, as it ensures people are present even in the remotest spots of Tojinbo at all hours of the day.

Via TecMundo.