MINNESOTA: SAVE, MnDOT Building Railings on St. Paul Bridge to Deter Suicide

CBS Minnesota

In an effort to prevent suicide deaths, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is building nine-foot fences along the half-mile length of St. Paul’s Smith Avenue High Bridge. Located 160 feet above the Mississippi River, the bridge has had an average of nearly one suicide a year for the past decade, including seven deaths in 2015. Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) was consulted on the height, look, and materials for the fences. “This is really the first time in our state where there has been a dedicated effort to looking at putting up a barrier on a bridge that is specific to suicide prevention,” said SAVE Executive Director Dan Reidenberg.

Spark Extra! Learn more about reducing access to means of suicide.