SAC member Eddy Elmer recently provided staff with his comments related to the effectiveness of suicide barriers, such as those proposed for the Burrard Bridge. In his report, he underscores the fact that although barriers reduce jumping at the bridges where they are installed, no study has yet shown that such barriers lead to a statistically significant reduction in the overall suicide rate in the region in which they are installed. He also discusses the mental health benefits of preserving the pedestrian experience of the bridge, and why less intrusive means prevention methods (e.g., fencing) may be more suitable options.
His report is available here.
