Interventions such as restricting access to means, encouraging help-seeking and increasing the likelihood of intervention by a third party are known to be effective in preventing suicides in public places. However, there are concerns that such efforts may displace suicides to other sites. This article lists a number of research studies that conclude displacement is uncommon.
Too et al (2025) conducted a meta-analysis to assess the pooled effects of interventions on suicides at frequently used locations and other sites, and on overall suicides involving the same method. It concluded that “suicide numbers at other sites did not change after interventions such as restricting access to means were deployed at frequently used locations.“
Too, L.S, Shin S, Taouk, Y, Pirkis, J, Sinyor, M, Siu Fai Yip, P, Hawton, K, 2025, Impact of interventions at frequently used suicide locations on occurrence of suicides at other sites: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Psychological Medicine, 55, e168,1-12
Dwyer et al (2023) examined the impact of barriers on patterns of jumping suicides across Victoria, Australia, after a safety barrier was installed at the West Gate Bridge which, before the installation of the barrier, was the site of approximately 40% of Victoria’s jumping suicides. The study found that “after installation of the safety barrier at the West Gate Bridge, jumping suicide in Victoria decreased overall and at other bridges, and did not appear to change at non-bridge locations. Our findings show that when barriers are installed at a site responsible for a disproportionately high number of jumping suicides, they are not only highly effective at the site where the barriers are isntalled but can also have a prevention impact beyond the immediate locale at similar sites”.
Dwyer, J, Spittal, MJ, Scurrah, K, Pirkis, J, Bugeja, L, Clapperton, A, 2023, Structural intervention at one bridge decreases the overall jumping suicide rate in Victoria, Australia, Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2023 Sep 18;32:e58. doi: 10.1017/S2045796023000720. PMID: 37721170; PMCID: PMC10539743.
Clapperton (2025 personal communication) has reviewed evidence for displacement and concluded that “existing evidence regarding suicide displacement and method substitution in public settings, typically comes from studies focused on barriers at a single location where suicides are common. These studies suggest displacement is uncommon but context-dependent (Law et al 2014, Perron et al 2013, Sinyor et al 2017) and that method substitution is unlikely (Daigle, 2005, Reisch et al, 2007).” Most of this evidence comes from bridges therefore it is recommended that further research is conducted in relation to the rail context.
Law, C.K., J. Sveticic, and D. De Leo, 2014, Restricting access to a suicide hotspot does not shift the problem to another location. An experiment of two river bridges in Brisbane, Australia. Aust N Z J Public Health, 2014. 38(2): p. 134–138.
Perron, S., Burrows, S, Fournier, M, Perron, P, Ouellet, F., 2013, Installation of a bridge barrier as a suicide prevention strategy in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Am J Public Health, 2013. 103(7): p. 1235–9.
Sinyor, M., Schaffer, A, Redelmeiier, DA, Kiss, A, Nishikawa, Y, Cheung, A, Levitt, A, Pirkis, J, 2017, Did the suicide barrier work after all? Revisiting the Bloor Viaduct natural experiment and its impact on suicide rates in Toronto. BMJ Open, 2017. 7(5): p. e015299.
Daigle, M.S.,2005, Suicide prevention through means restriction: assessing the risk of substitution. A critical review and synthesis. Accid Anal Prev, 2005. 37(4): p. 625–32.
Reisch, T., U. Schuste, and M. K., 2007, Suicide by Jumping and Accessibility of Bridges: Results from a National Survey in Switzerland. Suicide Life Threat Behav, 2007. 37(6).
The Victorian Coroner conducted an enquiry in in April 2011 and as part of their investigations asked the Coroners Prevention Unit for a report on all jump from height suicides from the West Gate Bridge following the installation of a temporary safety barrier.
According to the report, between 1 May 2009 and 14 February 2011, VH was one of five to jump from height suicides from the West Gate Bridge. This represents a reduction of approximately 85% in the number of such suicides at this location, compared with the two-year period immediately preceding installation of the temporary safety barrier, without any apparent concomitant shift to other Victoria locations. this outcome is consistent with conclusions from several studies of interventions at landmark suicide locations throughout the world, and justifies the expenditure of public funds to improve public safety in this regard.
Victorian Coroner Court, Coroner Spanos 4 April 2011, Redacted findings into death without inquest
Updated January 2026