Preventing suicide by jumping in public locations: a systematic review of interventions.

Why you should read this article: • To enhance your awareness of interventions aimed at preventing suicide by jumping in public locations • To find out about the evidence on public health measures that restrict people’s access to means of suicide • To develop a better understanding of confounders in research on preventing suicide by jumping. Death by suicide is a significant global concern. Research and clinical practice have often focused on suicide prevention through mental health interventions and means restriction measures, but there is a lack of consideration of public health initiatives. This article details a systematic review of quantitative studies on interventions designed to prevent suicide by jumping at high-frequency sites. A total of 14 studies were included. Ten studies reported a statistically significant reduction in suicide rates after the implementation of simple measures such as barriers, fences, screen doors or nets, so these may be cost-effective ways for local authorities to prevent suicide by jumping. However, once interventions are in place at one or more jump sites, people may select a site outside the area – or another means of suicide. To limit the risk of substitution for another location, there is a need to consider interventions that encourage help-seeking, such as signs, telephones and crisis phone lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]