Hi I wonder if bridge-jumping suicides are an example of impulsive suicides? What are the odds one is walking across the Bloor bridge perhaps to get to the fine Greek restaurants on the Danforth, and suddenly has an urge to kill one's self and jumps? Isn't it much more likely that one goes there for the express purpose of committing suicide? And given other options, one could go elsewhere to commit the act. Presumably suicides can be separated into impulsive and reflective ... only former should show the effect referred to by Scott, although even there the impulse could occur in the presence of any number of means, making the prediction a challenge. I hate to raise a controversial issue, but would this study have relevance to gun control arguments, suicide-prevention being one of the arguments for tighter control? Take care Jim James M. Clark Professor of Psychology 204-786-9757 204-774-4134 Fax [email protected]
>>> "Lilienfeld, Scott O" <[email protected]> 15-Jul-10 1:23 AM >>> 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] http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ ========================== [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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13132.a868d710aa4ef67a68807ce4fe8bd0da&n=T&l=tips&o=3580or send a blank email to leave-3580-13132.a868d710aa4ef67a68807ce4fe8bd...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- 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=3587 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-3587-13509.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=13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea7a891720c9&n=T&l=tips&o=3588 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-3588-13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea7a89172...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- 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=3612 or send a blank email to leave-3612-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
