1 / 6   March is considered to be the biggest month for suicides in Japan, possibly because it is the end of the fiscal year in the country. Aokigahara forest, which sits along the edge of Mount Fuji, is referred to the most prevalent suicide site in Japan. /VCG Photo

2 / 6   At the entrance of the forest, signs written in Japanese and English remind visitors to reach out for help and not take their own lives. Walking deep into the wood, people can see discarded snacks, bottles and scattered belongings, including ropes. /VCG Photo

3 / 6   In 2010, police recorded more than 200 attempted suicides in the forest. However, local officials do not publicize recent suicide figures at the forest, as they want to decrease the forest’s association with suicide. /VCG Photo

4 / 6   Over the years, local authorities have implemented prevention methods in an attempt to curb suicides in the forest. Markers and strings tied on trees show the ways out for those that change their mind and try to leave. /VCG Photo

5 / 6   Still, the local government also trains volunteers to talk to potentially suicidal visitors and has increased police patrols at the entrances of the forest. /VCG Photo

6 / 6   Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, 19.7 per 100,000 people in Japan took their own lives in 2015. /VCG Photo