Cost effectiveness of installing barriers at bridge and cliff sites for suicide prevention in Australia
This study found that barriers are a cost-effective measure associated with reduced rates of suicide at bridge sites and their installation is a warranted strategy for suicide prevention.
The economic evaluation found that barriers installed at multiple bridge sites across Australia were a cost-saving intervention with a return of US $2.40 for every US $1 invested over 10 years. Further research is required for cliff sites.
Within Australia, 5% of all suicides in 2020 occurred by jumps from heights (eg, from bridges and cliffs). Despite the relatively low proportion of total suicides accounted for by this method, these sites are of high priority for several reasons. Suicide attempts involving jumping tend to be fatal, and suicides at these sites are often witnessed by bystanders. These sites also often gain reputations as places where people go to take their lives because of their accessibility and the media attention that often surrounds them.
Means restriction via barriers has been shown to be an effective suicide prevention strategy at these sites. Despite this, there is sometimes considerable resistance to installing barriers, with one of the key arguments being cost.
This research was led by Piuemee Bandara and was one of a number of studies that formed part of a major research project co-ordinated by Prof Jane Pirkis at the Centre for Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and supported by the TrackSAFE Foundation between 2020-2023. This paper was first published in April 2023.
You can access the full paper here.
Other papers published as part of this research project are available here.
Change in incidents of suicidal acts after intervention on a bridge in South Korea
This study found that the rate of suicide death decreased after the installation of spinning bar barrier but not after the implementation of a video incident detection system alone. The findings reinforce that restricting access to means is a highly effective way of preventing suicide on bridges and that spinning bars may be a helpful way to design barriers.
The study examined 146 suicidal acts on a dual two land highway toll bridge over a bay in South Korea.
The spinning bars intervention takes the form of four spinning rollers on top of the guard rails on both sides of the bridge and make it impossible for a person to grab hold of the bar and climb up to a jumping point.
The Video based Incident Detection System includes speed sensors that can warn the operations control team if the speed of a car is below 30 km/hour. These complement tracking CCTV cameras that allow the operations control team to be dispatched for a rapid response to unusual behaviour.
This research was led by Sangsoo Shin at the University of Melbourne Centre for Mental Health. It was first published in May 2024.
You can access the full paper here.
Effectiveness of partial restriction of access in jumping suicide: lessons from four bridges in three countries
This study concluded that partial means restriction such as fences with sensor wires and spinning bars at the top, and partial fencing at selected points on bridges appears to be helpful in preventing suicide. Although these interventions are unlikely to be as effective as interventions that fully secure the bridge and completely prevent jumping, they might best be thought of as temporary solutions before more complete or permanent structures are implemented.
The study compared data on jumping suicides at 4 bridges, 1 in South Korea (Bridge A), 2 in the United Station (Bridges B and C) and 1 in Canada (Bridge D).
Fences with sensor wires and spinning handrails installed above existing railings on Bridge A, and fences at each side of the entrances and the midpoint of main suspension cables on Bridge D were associated with significant reductions in suicides. Installation of bird spike on the parapet on the Bridge B and fences at the front of seating alcoves on Bridge C were not associated with changes in suicides.
This research was led by Sangsoo Shin at the University of Melbourne Centre for Mental Health. It was first published in 2024.
You can access the full paper here.
Updated 23 January 2025