How cost-effective are suicide prevention barriers on bridges and cliffs?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-04-06 01:00

Australia; NSW; VIC

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Barriers installed on bridges around Australia are a cost-effective measure associated with reduced rates of suicide, according to Aussie researchers, who found that the barriers give a return of US $2.40 for every US $1 invested over 10 years. The team found that US $145 million could be saved in prevented suicides over five years, and US $270 Million over 10 years, based on the Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's estimate for the value of statistical life. The research did not find significant evidence for the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of barrier installation at cliff sites, suggesting more research and a broader approach to suicide prevention at cliff sites is needed.

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Research JAMA, Web page

Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Western Sydney University, The University of Melbourne, Black Dog Institute, The University of New South Wales, Deakin University

Funder: This work was funded through the Australian Government National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Programme. Dr Pirkis is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grant and holds a Partnership Project Grant (Nos. 1173126 and 1191874). Dr Clapperton and Mr Shin are supported by the Partnership Project Grant (No. 1191874). Dr Too is supported by a NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (No. GNT1156849). Dr Andriessen is supported by a NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (No. 1157796) and an Early Career Researcher Grant of the University of Melbourne (No. ECR1202020). Dr Spittal is a recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (project No. FT180100075) funded by the Australian Government. Dr Le is supported by the Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellowship 2021-2022.

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