The Lancet Psychiatry journal has issued a warning on the trend of ‘suicide bridges’, where popular bridges are becoming sites for suicide with people taking their own lives by jumping off of them.

This phenomenon is prevalent in countries around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. The report published in the Lancet Psychiatry journal argues that the health authorities need to take measures to prevent these deaths, including introducing barriers to stop people from jumping off bridges.

Suicide Bridges – A Growing Phenomenon

Suicide bridges are gaining popularity with people who wish to end their lives by jumping off a structure. These bridges are often popular tourist attractions, and people choose them as sites of suicide due to their height and proximity to water.

The San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge, where more than 1,600 people have jumped to their death is one of the most infamous examples of a suicide bridge. But such cases are seen in many other places as well, including Japan’s Aokigahara Forest, also known as the ‘Sea of Trees’. The bridge there is responsible for at least 100 suicides since the 1950s.

The report in the Lancet Psychiatry journal highlights the fact that some of these bridges have become so popular that they are now websites and even have their own names.

Some of these bridges have become iconic sites of suicide, and this notoriety is a factor that draws people to them.

Death Toll from ‘Suicide Bridges’

The report estimates that between 2011 and 2019, there were more than 1,000 suicides that occurred on bridges around the world. In the United Kingdom, the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England, is notorious for suicides.

The bridge has seen more than 200 suicides since it was opened in the 1860s. In the United States, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is a popular suicide site, with more than 30 known deaths every year.

What Can Be Done?

One of the key arguments in the report is the implementation of barriers on bridges to prevent people from jumping.

The report highlights that in countries such as Australia and New Zealand, where bridge barriers have been introduced, the number of suicides have fallen. This approach has also been successful in the United Kingdom and Switzerland.

Another solution highlighted in the report is the increased use of surveillance cameras on bridges. This would enable the authorities to respond quickly to potential suicides and help prevent them.

The report argues that this approach has been successful in Japan’s Aokigahara Forest where cameras were installed after an increase in suicide attempts in 2010.

Finally, the report calls for the development of a comprehensive national strategy for suicide prevention. The strategy should be multi-faceted, including public education on suicide prevention and increasing access to mental health services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Lancet Psychiatry report highlights the growing phenomenon of ‘suicide bridges’ and the need for preventive measures to be put in place.

The implementation of barriers and increased surveillance are straightforward methods that have proven to be successful in limiting the number of suicides from bridges. However, it is important to note that a comprehensive national strategy for suicide prevention is also needed to address the underlying causes of suicide.