Why do we need to Raise the Rails?
Suicide is Often Impulsive
In the United States, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death, ranking 3rd for those ages 10-24 and 25-44. Since 2000, rates of suicide have increased by over 30%, resulting in 49,476 deaths in 2022 alone. Suicide is a public health epidemic that causes immeasurable suffering for individuals, families, and communities. While the stigma of mental illness has been greatly reduced in recent years, and mental health treatment has become more available, suicide ideation still often goes undetected. Only an estimated 46% of people who die by suicide were diagnosed with a mental health condition. Increased access to quality mental health care is essential, but a combination of approaches in necessary to eliminate suicide.
For many, the period of high suicide risk is short, creating a small window of opportunity for life-saving intervention.
In a study of nearly-lethal suicide attempt survivors, one in four survivors attempted suicide only five minutes after making the decision. In a similar study, nearly half of suicide attempt survivors described attempting suicide less than ten minutes after the emergence of suicidal thoughts. Something as simple as raising rails to prevent access to lethal means of suicide can delay a person through this high-risk period, creating greater opportunity for survival and intervention.
NYC is a Suicide Jumping Hotspot
From 2010 to 2019, New York City witnessed an average suicide count of 543 per year. While New York City’s suicide rate is only half of the national average (6.1 per 100,000 compared to 13.9), the prevalence of suicide by jumping is much higher, accounting for 25% of suicides.
There is an average of 135 suicide deaths by jumping each year in NYC.
Research shows that people choose a suicide method based on lethality and availability, therefore suicide by falling is more common in major metropolitan areas. New York City is full of high-rise buildings and well-known jumping sites. The city has become known for “suicide tourism,” with 10% of suicides in Manhattan involving non-residents, for whom jumping is the most common method. Places such as The Vessel, which was forced to close to the public after four suicides by jumping, show us there is a pressing need for design that considers and mitigates the risk of suicide.
The International Building Code, which dictates standards for construction, currently requires guard railings to be a minimum of 42 inches, about waist height on the average adult.
The building design and regulatory communities are largely unaware of the risks and the opportunities for suicide prevention. Raise The Rail is aiming to raise awareness on this issue and advocate for higher railing heights and alternative barriers to prevent suicide by jumping. California passed a law requiring anyone planning the construction or reconstruction of a bridge to show that they considered suicide prevention in the design process. No such law exists in New York City.