About JSCP
Background
In order to realize a society in which no one is driven to take their own life, Japan Suicide Countermeasures Promotion Center (JSCP) will promote suicide countermeasures as comprehensive support for people's lives. Seeking the way to collaborate with all stakeholders necessary to achieve this goal, JSCP will also try to communicate between people with lived experiences and their supporters focusing our attention on the site of suicide countermeasures and boldly creating "advanced models." Meanwhile, JSCP will play a role in leading comprehensive suicide countermeasures in Japan as a nationally designated research organization which is stipulated in "Law on Promotion of Surveys and Research to Facilitate Comprehensive and Effective Implementation of Suicide Countermeasures and Utilization, etc. of Outcomes thereof, etc." (Law No. 32 of 2019) through strengthening research and verification to promote effective and efficient projects.
Representative Director's Comment
To create a comfortable society to live in which no one is driven to take their own life
The initial steps of JSCP have been tumultuous ones, almost symbolizing the progress made in suicide countermeasures so far. For, this center has launched as a nationally designated organization based on the Law on April 1, 2020, when the impact of COVID-19 pandemic forced us to prioritize the emergency response in anticipation of increased suicide risk. Our journey to the unprecedented situation began without any preparation.
In the initial training program on 2-3 April, 2020, the contents that were planned originally were fully changed. All of the staff were divided into four groups and given the task of discussing "how to prevent suicide due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic." After the first meeting greetings, they were immediately thrown into the situation where they had to draw up specific plans for suicide countermeasures. I guess they were somewhat confused, but most of the staff consisted of (former) members of public or private entities, researchers, physicians, survivors and people who have been on the front lines of comprehensive suicide countermeasures efforts. A number of measures were quickly put forward by them.
During the first three months of operation, JSCP has been able to realize several specific measures such as"Navigation system of information on support available" , " which was entered into an agreement with and collaborated with "Office for Novel Coronavirus Disease Control" in Cabinet Secretariat to achieve implementation. This is a web page that can provide three levels of support without interruption by cooperating with each other. The page changes its role depending on the users' demands, such as giving information on available support systems, giving information about how to deal with stress, or refer to support directly for individuals with extremely high levels of stress (or having suicidal risk).
In addition, JSCP conducted an Urgent Investigation in late April to understand the situation that private entities across the country working on suicide countermeasures and support for survivors have been forced to limit or suspend their activities during this COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 55 organizations that responded, 46 (83.6%) entities revealed the serious situation that forced them to refrain from their activities and challenges in resuming. On 21 May, JSCP conducted an Emergency Online Session (Over 500 municipalities and 600 sites participated) targeted to local government officials (in charge of suicide countermeasures) to communicate what measures should be taken to prepare for the risk of suicide due to the effects of the COVID-19. We also called for the media companies requiring that they cover the recent suicide of a celebrity according to WHO's guidelines for media professionals--though this is not directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Worked in parallel with these urgent specific measures, JSCP has engaged in suicide countermeasures from a medium- to long-term perspective such as considering the contents of Innovative Research Program on Suicide Countermeasures and translating WHO's National Suicide Prevention Strategies into Japanese.
JSCP must discharge our responsibilities as a nationally designated organization to take over the site-based concept or principle which has been undertaken ever since the Basic Act on Suicide Prevention was formulated, responding to the immediate crisis and keeping a firm grasp on the trend of the time and society. I am determined to keep moving forward to create a "comfortable society to live in" where every citizen is satisfied with being who they are, a place where no one is driven to take their own life. I would be very honored if you could learn more about our center and activities through this website.
Representative Director Yasuyuki Shimizu
Background
- 1997-2004
- Worked as an NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) TV director
- 2001
- Year-long coverage in the program "Today's Close-up" about children who have lost their parent to suicide. "Don't Die, Daddy: Parent killed him/herself, Children Left Behind" was broadcasted. Continued to gather information about orphans, suicide notes and suicide countermeasures as an NHK news director. Left NHK in the spring of 2004 feeling the limits of suicide countermeasures in Japan where no one is there to lead.
- 2004
- Established the nongovernmental organization LIFELINK to support suicide countermeasures. Becomes Representative Director.
- 2005
- Planned and hosted the first symposium on suicide countermeasures at the Diet Members' Building.
- 2006
- Obtained 100,000 signatures in a signature calling for suicide prevention legislation (requirement of 30,000 signatures) which contributed to enact the Basic Act on Suicide Countermeasures.
- 2009
- Appointed as a Counselor to the Cabinet Office (until August 2011) as a member of Emergency Strategy Team for Suicide Countermeasures consisting of Minister of State for Special Missions. Responsible for organizing the 100-Day Plan for Suicide Countermeasures.
- 2016
- On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the enforcement of the Basic Act, became an advisor to the non-partisan "Diet Members' Association for Suicide Countermeasures" and was involved in the major revision of the Basic Act.
- 2019-present
- Established Japan Suicide Countermeasures Promotion Center (JSCP). Becomes Representative Director.
Overview of Organization
We structure our organization considering the 5 aspects listed below, in order to pursue our operation as a nationally designated organization appropriately and steadily.
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Enhancement of Local Cooperation
& Local Community SupportEnhancing cooperation between local suicide countermeasures promotion centers (in each prefecture etc.) or municipalities to reinforce practical support concerned with formulating, implementing, managing and reviewing local suicide countermeasure plans.
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Contribution to Policy Making
Promoting the data collection and evaluation of local suicide countermeasures and creating new models or conducting research based on forthcoming policy issues in order to produce research outcomes that contribute to various policy recommendations or EBPM.
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Development & Improvement of
Skills/Tools to SupportDeveloping and improving skills/tools to support, such as "creating an infrastructure for consulting services on SNS" and "promoting teaching in schools that tell students how to seek help", adapting to various circumstances depending on the situation.
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Promotion of International Cooperation
Improving the quality of suicide countermeasures in Japan through investigating and researching pioneering schemes etc., while contributing to the world in a humanitarian perspective by exporting our suicide countermeasure policies.
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Enhancement of Managemental Functions
Flexibly creating a framework of cooperation with various individuals in diverse fields who are concerned with suicide countermeasures, while enhancing governance and compliance in order to cooperate closely with the nation or local governments.
WHO Collaborating Centre
In Jan. 2021, JSCP was appointed as "WHO Collaborating Centre (JPN-99: Research and Training in Suicide Prevention)." We will continue our effort in creating a global network for suicide countermeasures and train individuals who could work in the field of suicide countermeasures.For more information, visit here .
Organization Chart
5 Principles of Our Activity
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Function as a "hub" for comprehensive suicide countermeasures in Japan.
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Promote suicide countermeasures widely and comprehensively as an "inclusive support to stay alive."
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Position life and the real place of personal support or local cooperation on every action we take.
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Take on the responsibility of "leading the PDCA cycle" in the field of comprehensive suicide countermeasures by promoting evidence-based policymaking.
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Become the "worldwide promoter of suicide countermeasures" by actively exporting our policies abroad.
6 Fields of Our Activity6 Fields of Our Activity
JSCP will pursue the 6 activities listed below, which are defined as the "duty of nationally designated research organization" in Section 5 of "Law on Promotion of Surveys and Research to Facilitate Comprehensive and Effective Implementation of Suicide Countermeasures and Utilization, etc. of Outcomes thereof, etc.
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Investigating, researching and reviewing the reality of suicides, prevention of suicides, ways that support ought to be for family members or relatives of people who took their own lives (*survivors), ways that suicide countermeasures should be depending on the local situations in communities, state of implementation of suicide countermeasures, and maintenance/improvement of mental health, in addition to providing the outcomes and promoting the utilization of those outcomes.*Added at our own discretion
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Supporting the individuals concerned with our investigation, research and review stated in the last Paragraph.
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Collecting, organizing, and providing information on pioneering efforts, etc. of suicide prevention.
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Advising and providing other support to local governments on formulating and implementing suicide prevention policies that suit the situations in local communities.
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Carrying out training on suicide prevention to the staff of local governments, private organizations that practice activities related to suicide prevention, and other individuals concerned with it.
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Pursuing duties which accompany the duties in each Paragraph.
