Railway and Metro Suicides

Abstract

This article reviews research on railway and metro (underground and subway) suicides around the world. Although the incidence and survival rates vary and standardized methodologies are lacking, it is evident that there is a high incidence among psychiatric patients and at stations, crossings, and track areas near psychiatric institutions. Fictional and news reports of railway and metro suicides are related to increased rates, and false beliefs about a certain, fatal, and painless outcome may contribute to use of this method. Train drivers and rail personnel are often traumatized and in need of personal support after the incident. Most prevention involves surveillance, limiting access to tracks, or prompt intervention during an attempt. Other potential strategies include focusing upon the high-risk populations of previous attempters and patients in psychiatric facilities near stations and tracks and changing attitudes concerning the acceptability of this method to ensure that potentially suicidally active individuals are not under the illusion that this is a certain and painless method of death.

Patterns of Suicide and Other Trespassing Fatalities on State-Owned Railways in Greater Stockholm; Implications for Prevention

“…Our findings on victims awaiting trains on site and the nearness between place of occurrence and place of residence are in line with findings from other studies [5]. A special branch of studies refer to "hot spots", especially their nearness to psychiatric institutions [18,19]. From our national studies we have not been able to identify geographical clustering patterns in that respect, possibly as a result of a broad transition to non-institutional psychiatric care in the Swedish society.…”

Patterns of Suicide and Other Trespassing Fatalities on State-Owned Railways in Greater Stockholm; Implications for Prevention

“…Our findings on victims awaiting trains on site and the nearness between place of occurrence and place of residence are in line with findings from other studies [5]. A special branch of studies refer to "hot spots", especially their nearness to psychiatric institutions [18,19]. From our national studies we have not been able to identify geographical clustering patterns in that respect, possibly as a result of a broad transition to non-institutional psychiatric care in the Swedish society.…”

Strategies for Reducing Suicide at Railroads: A Scoping Review of Evidence and Gaps

“…Our review identified 51 publications pertinent to prevention interventions at railroads. Twenty-six of the papers comprised epidemiological studies or purely theoretical assessments of interventions [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 9 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Twenty-four of the papers sampled cross-sections of suicides across a small number of test stations or sites [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ].…”

“…Quantitative findings were sparse across all interventions, as empirical studies typically concentrated on specific train lines or city regions and assessed only a small number of suicides. A review by Havarneanu et al identified three major categories of preventative activities and interventions: (1) deterrence (platform screen doors, physical barriers, calming blue light, appropriate media reporting); (2) detection (monitoring and detection system, surveillance unit); and (3) response (pits between rails, staff training to approach people) [ 2 , 6 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 53 , 54 ]. The heterogeneity in methodologies, geographic constraints, and small sample sizes in many studies rendered quantitative data synthesis through meta-analysis unfeasible.…”

“…Physical barriers have garnered substantial support as a powerful means of deterrence, though some concerns exist surrounding financial tenability [ 6 , 13 , 14 , 55 ]. The question of substitution or displacement to other locations is unresolved.…”

“…Limited research exists regarding lighting as a means of suicide prevention [ 6 , 17 , 68 ]. At Valby Station in Denmark, where a multifaceted approach including the installation of motion-sensitive lights was implemented, there was a decrease in suicide rates.…”

Patterns of Suicide and Other Trespassing Fatalities on State-Owned Railways in Greater Stockholm; Implications for Prevention

“…Our findings on victims awaiting trains on site and the nearness between place of occurrence and place of residence are in line with findings from other studies [5]. A special branch of studies refer to "hot spots", especially their nearness to psychiatric institutions [18,19]. From our national studies we have not been able to identify geographical clustering patterns in that respect, possibly as a result of a broad transition to non-institutional psychiatric care in the Swedish society.…”

Strategies for Reducing Suicide at Railroads: A Scoping Review of Evidence and Gaps

“…Our review identified 51 publications pertinent to prevention interventions at railroads. Twenty-six of the papers comprised epidemiological studies or purely theoretical assessments of interventions [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 9 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Twenty-four of the papers sampled cross-sections of suicides across a small number of test stations or sites [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ].…”

“…Quantitative findings were sparse across all interventions, as empirical studies typically concentrated on specific train lines or city regions and assessed only a small number of suicides. A review by Havarneanu et al identified three major categories of preventative activities and interventions: (1) deterrence (platform screen doors, physical barriers, calming blue light, appropriate media reporting); (2) detection (monitoring and detection system, surveillance unit); and (3) response (pits between rails, staff training to approach people) [ 2 , 6 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 53 , 54 ]. The heterogeneity in methodologies, geographic constraints, and small sample sizes in many studies rendered quantitative data synthesis through meta-analysis unfeasible.…”

“…Physical barriers have garnered substantial support as a powerful means of deterrence, though some concerns exist surrounding financial tenability [ 6 , 13 , 14 , 55 ]. The question of substitution or displacement to other locations is unresolved.…”

“…Limited research exists regarding lighting as a means of suicide prevention [ 6 , 17 , 68 ]. At Valby Station in Denmark, where a multifaceted approach including the installation of motion-sensitive lights was implemented, there was a decrease in suicide rates.…”

Patterns of Suicide and Other Trespassing Fatalities on State-Owned Railways in Greater Stockholm; Implications for Prevention

“…Our findings on victims awaiting trains on site and the nearness between place of occurrence and place of residence are in line with findings from other studies [5]. A special branch of studies refer to "hot spots", especially their nearness to psychiatric institutions [18,19]. From our national studies we have not been able to identify geographical clustering patterns in that respect, possibly as a result of a broad transition to non-institutional psychiatric care in the Swedish society.…”

Strategies for Reducing Suicide at Railroads: A Scoping Review of Evidence and Gaps

“…Our review identified 51 publications pertinent to prevention interventions at railroads. Twenty-six of the papers comprised epidemiological studies or purely theoretical assessments of interventions [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 9 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Twenty-four of the papers sampled cross-sections of suicides across a small number of test stations or sites [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ].…”

“…Quantitative findings were sparse across all interventions, as empirical studies typically concentrated on specific train lines or city regions and assessed only a small number of suicides. A review by Havarneanu et al identified three major categories of preventative activities and interventions: (1) deterrence (platform screen doors, physical barriers, calming blue light, appropriate media reporting); (2) detection (monitoring and detection system, surveillance unit); and (3) response (pits between rails, staff training to approach people) [ 2 , 6 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 53 , 54 ]. The heterogeneity in methodologies, geographic constraints, and small sample sizes in many studies rendered quantitative data synthesis through meta-analysis unfeasible.…”

“…Physical barriers have garnered substantial support as a powerful means of deterrence, though some concerns exist surrounding financial tenability [ 6 , 13 , 14 , 55 ]. The question of substitution or displacement to other locations is unresolved.…”

“…Limited research exists regarding lighting as a means of suicide prevention [ 6 , 17 , 68 ]. At Valby Station in Denmark, where a multifaceted approach including the installation of motion-sensitive lights was implemented, there was a decrease in suicide rates.…”