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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Interventions to reduce suicides at suicide hotspots: a systematic review

Authors: Georgina R Cox, Christabel Owens, Jo Robinson, Angela Nicholas, Anne Lockley, Michelle Williamson, Yee Tak Derek Cheung, Jane Pirkis

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

‘Suicide hotspots’ include tall structures (for example, bridges and cliffs), railway tracks, and isolated locations (for example, rural car parks) which offer direct means for suicide or seclusion that prevents intervention.

Methods

We searched Medline for studies that could inform the following question: ‘What interventions are available to reduce suicides at hotspots, and are they effective?’

Results

There are four main approaches: (a) restricting access to means (through installation of physical barriers); (b) encouraging help-seeking (by placement of signs and telephones); (c) increasing the likelihood of intervention by a third party (through surveillance and staff training); and (d) encouraging responsible media reporting of suicide (through guidelines for journalists). There is relatively strong evidence that reducing access to means can avert suicides at hotspots without substitution effects. The evidence is weaker for the other approaches, although they show promise.

Conclusions

More well-designed intervention studies are needed to strengthen this evidence base.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Interventions to reduce suicides at suicide hotspots: a systematic review
Authors
Georgina R Cox
Christabel Owens
Jo Robinson
Angela Nicholas
Anne Lockley
Michelle Williamson
Yee Tak Derek Cheung
Jane Pirkis
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-214

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