The effectiveness of a structural intervention in preventing suicidal behaviours at a bridge in South Korea and its influence at nearby bridges

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Suicide Prevention

Background:

• Previous studies suggest restricting access to suicide hotspots may not cause displacement.
• However, these studies often overlook the environmental similarities and proximity of intervention and comparison sites.
• This research evaluates a barrier's effectiveness at a specific bridge and its impact on adjacent, similar locations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a safety barrier in preventing suicidal behaviors at a bridge.
• To determine if the barrier installation led to displacement effects at nearby bridges with similar characteristics.
• To analyze suicide deaths and emergency service call-outs before and after the intervention.

Main Methods:

• Utilized eight years of annual data on suicide deaths and emergency service call-outs for suicidal events.
• Data collected from one intervention bridge and four nearby comparison bridges in South Korea.
• Intervention period: January 2017–December 2020; Pre-intervention period: January 2013–December 2016.

Main Results:

• The safety barrier was effective in reducing suicides at the intervention bridge (Rate Ratio [RR]: 0.37).
• No significant increase in suicides was observed at the four nearby comparison bridges (pooled RR [pRR]: 1.37).
• Emergency call-outs decreased at the intervention bridge (RR: 0.89) but increased at comparison bridges (pRR: 1.47) post-intervention.

Conclusions:

• Site-based suicide prevention interventions, like barriers, can be effective without causing displacement to similar nearby sites.
• Findings highlight the importance of considering the characteristics of nearby sites when implementing localized interventions.
• A broader approach, encompassing both intervention and similar proximate sites, is crucial for effective suicide prevention strategies.