Effect of Barriers on the Clifton Suspension Bridge, England, on Local Patterns of Suicide: Implications for Prevention

The authors assessed the effect of the installation of barriers on the Clifton suspension bridge in Bristol, England, in 1998 on local suicides. Deaths from this bridge halved from 8.2 per year (1994-1998) to 4.0 per year (1999-2003). Although 90% of the suicides were by males, there was no evidence of an increase in male suicide by jumping from other sites in the Bristol area after the barriers were erected. This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of barriers on bridges in preventing site-specific suicide & suicides by jumping overall in the surrounding area. (7 refs.)