Barriers and safety nets at suicide hotspots can reduce rates by 90%

The Guardian

When preventive measures are taken at sites that are well-known for frequent suicides, the results can be dramatic. Researchers recently used computer modeling to integrate the findings of several studies on the effects of barriers, signs and/or phones to encourage help-seeking, and programs that facilitate the interruption of a suicide attempt. The research team estimated that simply by restricting access, for example with barriers to impede jumping from a high spot, suicide deaths can be reduced by up to 93%. Installing crisis phones and posting signs with crisis line numbers was also found to be highly effective. Programs that use security cameras or patrols to alert authorities to a potential crisis were found to give a statistical boost to the positive effects of other interventions, though they may not be sufficient to lower rates when used in isolation. Lead author Jane Pirkis of the University of Melbourne said “These key interventions have the potential to complement each other and buy time to allow an individual to reconsider their actions and allow others the opportunity to intervene.”