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Early proof signifies that the set up of security nets on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco has been profitable in decreasing the variety of suicides on the bridge.
The outcomes, printed on-line within the journal Damage Prevention, present a 73% decline in suicides within the 12 months because the nets have been accomplished relative to the quantity earlier than internet set up started.
The researchers say their findings “highlight the value of installing nets on this bridge and the importance of barriers as a strategy to prevent suicides by jumping.”
The Golden Gate Bridge is a San Francisco landmark, however additionally it is well-known as a location for leaping suicide. The set up of security nets to stop suicide by leaping from the bridge was accomplished in January 2024, however was controversial, and no research have but examined their effectiveness.
To judge whether or not the protection nets have been working as meant, researchers studied the change in suicide charges on the bridge throughout three durations: earlier than (January 2000 to July 2018), throughout (August 2018 to December 2023) and after their set up (January 2024 to December 2024).
As a result of workers and volunteers on the bridge are educated to intervene when somebody is displaying indicators of a suicidal disaster, in addition they examined whether or not the three durations have been linked to adjustments within the variety of instances a 3rd celebration intervened to stop suicide.
Throughout all the examine interval, there have been 681 confirmed suicides and a pair of,901 interventions by a 3rd celebration.
There have been 2.48 suicides per thirty days earlier than set up of the protection nets, 1.83 throughout set up and 0.67 after set up. Throughout set up, suicides declined by 26% and after set up by 73%.
There have been 8.22 interventions by a 3rd celebration per thirty days earlier than set up of the protection nets, 14.42 throughout set up and 11 after set up. Throughout set up, the variety of interventions by a 3rd celebration elevated by 75% and after set up by 34%.
It is unclear why the variety of third celebration interventions declined from the interval of set up to the interval as soon as the nets have been full, however one risk is that eradicating this suicide technique resulted in fewer folks visiting the positioning with the intention to leap, and subsequently there have been fewer alternatives for a 3rd celebration to intervene, clarify the authors.
Additionally they acknowledge a number of examine limitations, together with solely having a yr of post-installation knowledge, the likelihood that some suicides have been misclassified as unintentional drownings, and being unable to guage potential displacement results (e.g., suicide at a close-by leaping website) or substitution to different suicide strategies.
Nevertheless, they are saying to one of the best of their information, that is the primary examine on the effectiveness of the newly put in security nets on the Golden Gate Bridge and offers early however clear proof that the protection nets are related to a right away and substantial discount in suicides on the website.
“There are many high-risk places around the world where people die by jumping from heights,” they add. “Our study provides further evidence to policymakers that barriers are a highly effective means of reducing suicide at bridges.”
Extra data:
Change in suicides throughout and after the set up of limitations on the Golden Gate Bridge, Damage Prevention (2025). DOI: 10.1136/ip-2024-045604
Offered by
British Medical Journal
Quotation:
Putting in security nets on Golden Gate Bridge linked to 73% decline in suicides (2025, March 18)
retrieved 18 March 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/information/2025-03-safety-nets-golden-gate-bridge.html
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