There is No Debate: Barriers Save Lives

Restricting suicide means by installing bridge barriers are a proven method of saving lives. Read the latest news and research studies on the importance and effectiveness of restricting means.

News on Bridge Barriers:

Dr. Lisa Firestone comments on the effectiveness of suicide bridge barrier. Read articles:  Santa Barbara Daily Sound | Noozhawk.com | Glendon Press Release

• Tragedy Strikes in Orange County. International Organization Answers Questions about Murder-Suicide. Read more
• Death on Cold Spring Bridge: Local Organization Answers Questions About Suicide. Read more
• Glendon Takes On GM…Read more
• Super Bowl Ad is Condemned by AAS, AFSP, SPAN-USA, and NAMI.
• “What (exactly) are we afraid of? September 11 brings us face-to-face with our own mortality” An article by Fred Branfman for Newsreview.com, featuring an interview with Dr. Robert Firestone. Click here to read more
• Journey through a Suicidal Mind: Young Man Shares his Story of Survival at Suicide Prevention Forum

Research Articles:

• Many suicide attempts occur impulsively during a crisis. (Harvard School of Public Health)
• Intent isn’t all that determines whether an attempter lives or dies; means also matter. (Harvard School of Public Health)
• 90% of attempters who survive do NOT go on to die by suicide later. (Harvard School of Public Health)
• Access to firearms is a risk factor for suicide. (Harvard School of Public Health)
• Firearms used in youth suicide usually belong to a parent. (Harvard School of Public Health)
• Reducing access to lethal means saves lives. (Harvard School of Public Health)
• Media reporting and suicide: a time-series study of suicide from Clifton Suspension Bridge, UK, 1974–2007 (Oxford Journals, 2011)
• Effect of restricting access to a Suicide jumping site (PDF) Keren Skegg and Peter Herbison (2009)
• A Note on Domestic Gas Suicide in Britain & The Netherlands (PDF) Ronald V. Clarke and Pat Mayhew (1989)
• CDC Preventing Suicidal Behavior (PDF) (2006)
• Charcoal Burning Suicides in Hong Kong and Urban Taiwan (PDF) Ka Y. Liu, Annette Beautrais et al. (2007)
• Co-proxamol and Suicide: a study of national mortality statistics and local non-fatal self poisonings (PDF) Keith Hawton, Sue Simkin & Jonathan Deeks (2003)
• Effectiveness of Barriers at Suicide Jumping Sites (PDF) Annette Beautrais (2001)
• Lethal Means Restriction: Its Value and its Problems (PDF) Jeremy Brigham, D. Min., Ph.D. (2003)
• Preventing Suicide by Jumping, the Effect of a Bridge Safety Fence (PDF) Andrew R Pelletier (2007)
• Restricting Access to Methods of Suicide (PDF) Keith Hawton (2007)
• Restrictions in Availability of Drugs Used for Suicide (PDF) Merete Nordentoft (2007)
• SAMHSA’s National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (PDF) 
• Securing a Hot Spot: Effects of a Safety Net at the Bern Muenster Terrace (PDF)Thomas Reisch, MD, and Konrad Michel, MD (2005)
• Suicide and Suicide Attempts (PDF) Oklahoma State Dept of Health
• Suicide Attempts by Firearms and Leaping from Heights (PDF) Gregory M. de Moore and Andrew R. Robertson (1999) Annette Beautrais
• Suicide Prevention Strategies a Systematic Review (PDF) J. John Mann, MD, Alan Apter, MD, et al. JAMA (2005)
• Suicide Prevention Through Means Restriction (PDF) Marc. S. Daigle (2005)
• The Contribution of Suicide Prevention of Restricting Access to Methods and Sites (PDF) Annette Beautrais (2007)
• Time Trends in Method Specific Suicide Rates Compared with the Availability of Specific Compounds (PDF) Merete Nordentoft, Ping Qin et al. (2006)
• WHO Suicide Prevention (PDF)  World Health Organization (2004)
• Effect of barriers on the Clifton suspension bridge, England, on local patterns of suicide:implications for prevention (PDF) Olive Bennewith, Mike Nowers & Davod Gunnell (2007)