Hi Chris - Alas, you may well be exactly right, but the finding runs counter to
most received wisdom in the suicide field (again, see Joiner's recent book,
"Myths about Suicide," which is quite unambiguous on this point), which
proposes that erecting barriers on bridges results in a overall decrease in
suicide, not merely a decrease at the targeted location (because most suicides
are ostensibly committed following an activation of short-term impulses).
There was also a good article on this issue in the New Yorker a few years ago
in reference to the erecting of barriers on the Golden Gate Bridge. As I
understand it, most of that earlier research did not find evidence for
"displacement effects" - offsetting increases in suicide at other bridges or
other high-risk locations following the erection of suicide barriers.
For what it's worth, I found Stephen Black's original message quite clear.
....Scott
________________________________
From: Christopher D. Green [[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 6:13 PM
To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)
Subject: Re: [tips] Bloor street bridge suicide study
It seemed obvious to me when they erected this expensive eyesore (to great
public fanfare) that it would change nothing. People wanting to commit suicide
would simply go somewhere else. Sadly, it seems I was exactly right. Sigh.
Chris
--
Christopher D. Green
Department of Psychology
York University
Toronto, ON M3J 1P3
Canada
416-736-2100 ex. 66164
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
http://www.yorku.ca/christo/
==========================
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> wrote:
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
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