Raising Rails is Means Safety

Means Safety is defined as educing access to the objects, items, or environments (“means”) that people use to die by suicide. Raising rails is one example of a Means Safety approach as it inhibits access to the ledge of a high surface that can be used to die by suicide. Here at Raise the Rail, we are promoting the building of new or increasing height of existing physical suicide barriers on high surfaces that could be used to die by suicide. While this may be in the form of literal railings on a rooftop or balcony, there are many creative and aesthetically pleasing ways to create functional barriers.

Means Safety has been proven to reduce suicide.

Reducing access to lethal means has proven to reduce suicides. In the 1950’s, the #1 method for suicide in the UK was carbon monoxide poisoning. After a change from toxic coal gas to nontoxic natural gas for domestic cooking, suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning rates fell dramatically, in addition to an overall reduction of suicide rates by a third. Similarly, Sri Lanka saw a 70% decrease in suicides after banning a few hazardous pesticides in the late 1990’s. Today, states with fewer guns and stricter gun laws have not only fewer suicides by guns, but fewer suicides overall. Means Safety works, especially for highly lethal suicide methods.

How can a Means Safety approach prevent suicide by jumping?

Means Safety can prevent suicide by jumping by reducing access to high ledges. While it is not possible or desirable to prohibit roof, balcony, or bridge access entirely, a significant barrier can provide enough of a delay for the high-risk period to pass . Jumping from a high place is one of the most lethal methods of suicide, resulting in death 85% of the time. Means Safety has proven to be effective for preventing suicides by jumping, most commonly in the form of bridge barriers. In Washington D.C., suicide deaths from the Ellington Bridge were reduced by 90% after the installation of barriers. Installing barriers or nets suicide hotspot bridges in Switzerland lead to a nearly 70% reduction in suicides at these sites. More recently, a suicide barrier net was constructed along the Golden Gate Bridge, a location that typically sees an average of 30 suicides every year. Even while the net was only partially constructed, the suicide rate fell by half. As of January 1, 2024, the net is complete with hopes of eliminating suicides entirely at this location. Other interventions such as window barriers or screen platform doors have also proven effective at reducing suicide rates.

Won’t people just find another means of suicide?

A common misconception is that if a person is stopped from completing their suicide attempt at one location, they will find another means. However, research shows this is often not the case. Nine out of ten survivors of suicide attempts do not go on to die by suicide. Additionally, installing barriers at one suicide hotspot location is not found to increase suicides at other popular locations nearby. Means safety can help reduce suicides by a particular lethal means and reduce suicides overall.

How can we afford suicide prevention barriers?

While there is no price you can put on saving a human life, there are actually economic benefits to installing barriers for suicide prevention. Despite being expensive to install, a cost-effective analysis found that the installation of a suicide barrier at the Golden Gate Bridge would lead to a highly cost-effective reduction in mortality. Another study assessed the cost-effectiveness of installing barriers at multiple bridge and cliff sites in Australia, where suicides from such locations are prevalent. For bridge sites, the study estimated that installing barriers could save about $145 million in prevented suicides over 5 years and $270 million over 10 years. The return on investment (ROI) ratio for building barriers at bridges over 10 years was calculated at 2.4, indicating that every dollar spent on the intervention could save 2.4 dollars in costs associated with suicide. These figures underscore the economic sense behind installing barriers as a suicide prevention measure.

What are the aesthetic considerations of building barriers and raising rails?

While some may view guards, rails, and screens as unsightly necessities, we seek to reframe these features as aesthetic opportunities. Imagine a world where barriers serve not just as life-saving measures but as multifunctional installations. This approach not only combats the stigma associated with suicide prevention measures but also enriches our public spaces, making the essential beautiful and the beautiful, essential. Interventions such as the Luminous Veil on Toronto's Prince Edward Viaduct or NYU Bobst Library’s digitally-inspired screen show us that suicide prevention measures can greatly enhance the appearance of a structure.