Stephen: Interesting, because in his recent book, "Myths about suicide," Thomas Joiner presents this is a settled issue - that erecting suicide barriers clearly leads to decreases in suicide at the site itself without any offsetting increase(s) in suicide anywhere else. Perhaps the issue isn't quite as straightforward as Joiner believes. But as Stephen B. observes, the naturalistic nature of the study inherently precludes strong causal conclusions.
..Scott ________________________________________ From: [email protected] [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 3:01 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Bloor street bridge suicide study There's a grim but interesting study of suicide rates on the Bloor Viaduct in Toronto before and after the placement of a suicide prevention barrier. Lots of statistics to crunch. Full text of the article available at: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/341/jul06_1/c2884 As is characteristic of natural experiments, the results do not lead to any conclusion with confidence. Don't miss the thoughtful commentary contributed by Isaac Sakinofsky as a rapid response at http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/341/jul06_1/c2884#238506 ) Sinyor, M. and Levitt, A. (2010). Effect of a barrier at Bloor Street Viaduct on suicide rates in Toronto: natural experiment. BMJ 2010;341:c2884 Stephen -------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: sblack at ubishops.ca 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13509.d0999cebc8f4ed4eb54d5317367e9b2f&n=T&l=tips&o=3580 or send a blank email to leave-3580-13509.d0999cebc8f4ed4eb54d5317367e9...@fsulist.frostburg.edu This e-mail message (including any attachments) is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message (including any attachments) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all copies of the original message (including attachments). --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=3582 or send a blank email to leave-3582-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
