Did the suicide barrier work after all? Revisiting the Bloor Viaduct natural experiment and its impact on suicide rates in Toronto.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This research aims to determine the long-term impact of the Bloor Street Viaduct suicide barrier on rates of suicide in Toronto and whether media reporting had any impact on suicide rates.

Design

Natural experiment.

Setting

City of Toronto, Canada; records at the chief coroner's office of Ontario 1993-2003 (11 years before the barrier) and 2004-2014 (11 years after the barrier).

Participants

5403 people who died by suicide in the city of Toronto.

Main outcome measure

Changes in yearly rates of suicide by jumping at Bloor Street Viaduct, other bridges including nearest comparison bridge and walking distance bridges, and buildings, and by other means.

Results

Suicide rates at the Bloor Street Viaduct declined from 9.0 deaths/year before th

SUBMITTER: Sinyor M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5734210 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature