List of suicide locations explained

The following is a list of current and historic sites frequently chosen to attempt suicide, usually by jumping. Some of the sites listed have installed suicide barriers, signs advising potential suicides to take other actions, and other precautions, such as crisis hotline phones.

Exact numbers of victims are sometimes difficult to determine, as many jurisdictions and media agencies have ceased collecting statistics and reporting suicides at common sites, in the belief that the reporting may encourage others.

Most frequently used locations

Locations by continent

Africa

SiteCityRegionCountryNotes and references
Ponte Apartment BuildingJohannesburgGauteng South Africa[10]
Van Stadens Bridge-Eastern Cape South Africa88 suicides since construction in 1971.[11]
Cairo TowerCairoCairo Governorate Egypt

Asia

SiteCityRegionCountryNotes and references
Nanjing Yangtze River BridgeNanjingJiangsu ChinaOver 2,000 suicides since 1968, ~50/year.
Wuhan Yangtze River BridgeWuhan China24.7 suicides per year[12]
Hussain SagarHyderabadTelangana India[13] [14]
Delhi MetroDelhiDelhi Indiaat least 83 suicides[15]
Rabindra Sarobar metro stationKolkataWest Bengal India[16]
Milad TowerTehranUntil 2012, three suicides occurred by persons jumping from Milad Tower.
Tehran MetroTehran
Aokigahara forest- Japanup to 105 suicides a year
Mount MiharaŌshimaTokyo JapanAn active volcano on the island of Izu Ōshima. After a suicide in 1933, media reports led to hundreds of copycats until 1936, when access was restricted.[17]
Shin-Koiwa StationTokyoTokyo Japan
Tojinbo, JapanSakaiFukui Japan
Mapo BridgeSeoulGyeonggi Province[18] [19]
Han River--[20] [21]

Europe

SiteCityRegionCountryNotes and references
Nusle BridgePragueCzech RepublicAt least 365 deaths.[22]
Archway BridgeLondonLondon[23]
Beachy Head-East Sussex20 suicides a year[24]
Clifton Suspension BridgeBristolSouth West EnglandMore than 500 suicides since opening in 1864. Suicide barriers were installed in 1998, which halved the suicide rate over the years following.[25]
Humber BridgeKingston-upon-HullEast Riding of YorkshireMore than 200 incidents of people jumping or falling from the bridge took place in the first 26 years after it opened in 1981.[26]
London UndergroundLondonLondon~50 attempts annually[27]
The MonumentLondonLondonWas the site of six suicides between 1788 and 1842, when the gallery was enclosed by an iron cage to prevent such misfortunes occurring again.[28]
Türisalu cliffTürisaluHarju County Estonia[29]
Paris MétroParis France20 to 40 deaths per year.[30]
Göltzsch ViaductReichenbach im VogtlandSaxony GermanyExemplary attraction for attempting suicide in Germany,[31] under continued supervision by the Federal Police,[32] scene of a 2001 suicide pact that led to the 2002 documentary Teuflische Spiele (Diabolical Games).[33]
Kocher ViaductSchwäbisch HallBaden-Württemberg GermanyHighest bridge in the country. A suicide barrier was installed on the bridge after an unusually high 48 suicides between 1979 and 1990.[34]
Cliffs of Moher-County Clare IrelandFour prevented suicides in 2008[35]
Grand Duchess Charlotte BridgeLuxembourg City- LuxembourgMore than 100 suicides since opening in 1966. Since 1993, a Plexiglas barrier has prevented people from jumping off the bridge and falling on top of the houses below.[36]
Foyle BridgeDerryCounty LondonderryMore than 90 suicides since 1984[37]
Karmsund BridgeRogaland NorwayEstimated 25 suicides.
25 de Abril BridgeLisbon Portugal[38]
Erskine BridgeErskineEast Renfrewshire
Forth Road Bridge-EdinburghEstimated over 20 suicides a year – more than 800 since the bridge opened in 1964*
Segovia ViaductMadridMadrid SpainColloquially called the suicide bridge, starting from the 17th century until the 1990s, when it saw fatal falls at an average of one a week. A barrier was erected in 1998.[39]
Älvsborg BridgeGothenburg Sweden[40]
VästerbronStockholmStockholm Sweden[41] [42]
Bosphorus BridgeIstanbulMarmara Turkey[43]
Southerndown-Vale of GlamorganWell-known in the local area for suicides; at least 9 between 2000 and 2003.[44]

North America

SiteCityRegionCountryNotes and references
Jacques Cartier BridgeMontreal CanadaMore than 143 suicides. Suicide barriers were erected in 2004.[45]
Prince Edward ViaductToronto CanadaA suicide barrier was installed in 2003.
Toronto SubwayToronto Canada150 people have killed themselves, and there have been an additional 100 attempts between 1998 and 2007.[46] [47] [48]
Niagara Falls-/ Canada/ United StatesBetween 1856 and 1995 there were 2,780 known suicides; and there are 20 to 25 per year.[49]
Arrigoni BridgeMiddletown United States[50] [51]
Colorado Street BridgePasadena United StatesHas been the host of numerous falls/jumps starting as early as its construction, when a worker who had been drinking fell off the bridge into wet cement. It has hosted many suicides since, and a large barrier/fence has been installed to keep people from jumping.
Coronado Bridge (also known as San Diego–Coronado Bridge)San Diego United StatesMore than 200 suicides (1972–2000)[52]
Foresthill BridgeAuburn United StatesEstimated 65 suicides since construction in 1973, actual number likely higher[53] [54]
Golden Gate BridgeSan Francisco United StatesOfficial count halted at 997 to prevent "record breakers"
Sunshine Skyway BridgeTampa Bay United StatesAt least 264 suicides by jumping from the center span into the waters of Tampa Bay since the opening of the new bridge in 1987. In response, the State of Florida installed crisis hotline phones and began 24-hour patrols.[55] [56] The song "Skyway Avenue" by We The Kings is about two lovers who decide to jump to their deaths together from this bridge.[57]
Penobscot Narrows Bridge and ObservatoryVerona Island12 confirmed suicides since opening in 2006; more are suspected by authorities.[58] [59] The state declined to install fencing around the bridge due to cost, and instead installed telephones connected to the suicide prevention hotline.[60]
Governor Thomas Johnson BridgeSouthern Maryland United States
George Washington BridgeNew York City/ United StatesIt has been averaging around 10 suicides per year and a record 18 in 2012.[61] [62] Tyler Clementi jumped from the bridge in 2010 after being cyberbullied.
Tappan Zee BridgeTarrytown United StatesMore than 30 suicides between 2002 and 2012; sometimes referred to as "the Golden Gate Bridge of the East"[63] This bridge was replaced in 2017 by a new twin span with fencing on its pedestrian/bicycle path to deter jumpers.
VesselNew York City United StatesIn the less than two years that the Vessel was open to the public, four people jumped to their deaths.[64] After the first three deaths, some limited changes were made to prevent suicide.[65] Following the fourth death, however, the Vessel has been closed indefinitely.[66]
Vista BridgePortland United States[67] [68]
George Washington Memorial Bridge ("Aurora Bridge")Seattle United StatesMore than 230 suicides since 1932,[69] with more than 50 from 1997 to 2007[70]
New River Gorge BridgeFayetteville United States[71] [72]

Oceania

SiteCityRegionCountryNotes and references
Echo PointBlue Mountains Australia[73]
Grafton BridgeAucklandAuckland 78 New ZealandSuicide barriers were removed in 1996 after being in place for 60 years but replaced in 2003.[74]
Lawyer's HeadDunedinOtago New Zealand[75]
Mooney Mooney BridgeCentral Coast AustraliaBecause of its height (making it a known suicide bridge), a fence was erected in 2003 to deter people from jumping off. The fence costed around $1,000,000.[76]
Story BridgeBrisbane AustraliaBrisbane's Story Bridge is notorious for its suicides, having been compared to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.[77] Free telephones have been installed on the bridge, and the bridge also has a three-metre-high safety barrier.[78]
Sydney Harbour BridgeSydney AustraliaAlthough the bridge is not as well-known for suicides as many others in Australia, the bridge has had numerous suicides and incidents (intentional or not) that occur on the bridge usually lead in death.[79]
The GapSydney AustraliaA large sea cliff. Roughly 50 suicides a year
West Gate BridgeMelbourne AustraliaHad "up to one" suicide every three weeks.[80] Suicide rates on the bridge have dropped by 85% since prevention barriers were installed by the state government in 2009.

South America

SiteCityRegionCountryNotes and references
São Paulo MetroSão PauloSão Paulo BrazilThe Metro, as other subway networks in Brazil, have a policy not to publicly disclose the number of suicides taking place in any given period to prevent further attempts
Third BridgeVitóriaEspírito Santo BrazilThe construction of a suicide prevention net is currently being discussed by public authorities and the concessionary of the bridge.[81]
Costanera CenterSantiagoSantiago ChileDubbed as the "suicide mall", the fifth floor and the surrounding stairs had to be covered with large fences due to suicide rates.[82] [83]
Viaducto García CadenaBucaramangaSantander Colombia[84]
Eduardo Villena Rey BridgeLimaLima PeruThe bridge had to be covered with large windows due to suicide rates. The street under the bridge is believed to be haunted.[85]

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://news.dayoo.com/society/gb/content/2006-09/11/content_2628571.htm 长江大桥成自杀圣地 专家建议装尼龙防护网
  2. Web site: Bateson. John. The Golden Gate Bridge's fatal flaw. Los Angeles Times . May 25, 2012 . October 18, 2013 . Since it opened on May 27, 1937, there have been an estimated 1,600 deaths in which the body was recovered.
  3. News: James . Bone . The Times . ECE . New York . 23 October 2008 . 13 October 2008.
  4. Web site: World's 10 most popular suicide destinations . 23 October 2008 . retard zone . 27 August 2008.
  5. News: Melina. Remy. How Did Teen Survive Fall from Golden Gate Bridge?. November 23, 2013. April 19, 2011.
  6. Web site: A barrier to hopeless souls . Baltimore Sun . 17 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140317021848/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2003-01-13/news/0301130268_1_viaduct-birney-bridge . 17 March 2014 .
  7. Web site: Desperate Japanese head to 'suicide forest' . Kyung. Lah . 19 March 2009. CNN.com/Asia. 10 April 2012. 'Especially in March, the end of the fiscal year, more suicidal people will come here because of the bad economy,' he said. 'It's my dream to stop suicides in this forest, but to be honest, it would be difficult to prevent all the cases here.'.
  8. News: Adelstein . Jake . 2 Jan 2018 . The YouTuber who filmed Japan's 'suicide forest' may have done something good . The Washington Post.
  9. News: Turnball . Malcolm . 24 March 2010 . Tragedy amid the beauty at The Gap . 5 January 2011 . The Sydney Morning Herald.
  10. Web site: Ponte City text / MIKHAEL SUBOTZKY ARCHIVE . www.subotzkystudio.com.
  11. News: Basson . Monique . 11 October 2012 . DA calling for safety measures . 15 October 2012 . Kouga Express.
  12. http://www.lw23.com/pdf_1b235c5c-e5be-49a1-880d-8a685bf34e05/lunwen.pdf 自杀的相关问题
  13. Web site: AuthorTelanganaToday . Hussain Sagar turning into Suicide Sagar . 2020-06-13 . Telangana Today . en-US.
  14. Web site: Kumar . Naveen . 2018-02-27 . Hyderabad: Sagar's low fence to blame for suicides . 2020-06-13 . Deccan Chronicle . en.
  15. Web site: 2018-11-18 . New Delhi: 83 suicides at Metro stations in last 4 years, reveals RTI query . 2020-06-14 . The Indian Express . en.
  16. Web site: 10 March 2018 . haunted rabindra sarobar station .
  17. Book: Ellis . Edward Robb . Traitor within: our suicide problem . Allen . George N. . Doubleday . 1961 . 94–98 . 445487.
  18. Web site: Bridge Signs Used in South Korea Anti-Suicide Efforts . Public Radio International.
  19. Web site: 26 February 2014 . Seoul anti-suicide initiative backfires, deaths increase by more than six times .
  20. Web site: Im . Jeong-yo . 2016-09-20 . Suicide attempts at Han River on the rise: data . 2021-11-27 . Korea Herald . en.
  21. Web site: 2021-06-16 . Seoul Stops Suicides from Han River Bridges With AI . 2021-11-27 . Seoul Metropolitan Government . en.
  22. Web site: Mladík (†25) skočil z "Nuseláku" . AHA.cz.
  23. Web site: September 2011 . Hornsey Lane Bridge Anti-Suicide Campaign. . https://web.archive.org/web/20111020213100/http://www.hornseylanebridge.net/ . 20 October 2011 . 3 February 2023.
  24. News: 2 June 2009 . Suicide jump child 'already dead' . 2 June 2009 . BBC News Online . BBC.
  25. News: 6 June 2006 . Effect of barriers on the Clifton suspension bridge .
  26. News: 13 June 2007 . Bridge jump attempts prevented . 26 June 2010 . BBC News.
  27. News: 27 August 2017 . TfL Freedom of Information request detail: Underground Suicide Data .
  28. Book: Weinreb, Ben . . . . 1992 . reprint . 542.
  29. News: Jõgeda . Tiina . 17 January 2008 . Türisalu pank – enesetaputuristide Meka . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081206033701/http://www.ekspress.ee/2008/01/17/eesti-uudised/631-tyrisalu-pank--enesetaputuristide-meka . 6 December 2008 . 12 December 2011 . . et.
  30. Web site: May 2014 . INFOGRAPHIE – RATP : une trentaine de personnes meurent chaque année dans le métro ou le RER parisien .
  31. Proske, Dirk (2004). Katalog der Risiken: Risiken und ihre Darstellung (Risk catalogue: Risks and their representations). Dresden: Eigenverlag. P. 146. Chap. 1.5: Soziale Risiken (Social risks), paragraph 1.5.1: Suizide (Suicide).
  32. [Der Spiegel (website)|Spiegel Online]
  33. zero one film (2011). 2002: Teuflische Spiele . Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  34. Book: Kleine Anfrage des Abg. Michael Theurer FDP/DVP und Antwort des Innenministeriums Vollvergitterung der Neckartalbrücke Weitingen (Autobahnbrücke Eyach) . 2007 . German.
  35. News: Deegan . Gordon . 21 January 2009 . Rangers stop four cliff suicides . Irish Independent.
  36. News: Le pont rouge, a suicide bridge – The World Wide Panorama .
  37. News: Tragedy of 90 deaths at suicide blackspot bridge . Herald.ie.
  38. Web site: Petição Ponte Segura – pelo fim dos suicídios na ponte 25 de Abril .
  39. Web site: 30 June 2014 . El Viaducto de Segovia y los suicidios en Madrid, historia .
  40. Web site: 17 August 2007 . Hoppskydd ska hindra självmord . Göteborgs-Posten.
  41. https://rib.msb.se/Filer/pdf/27633.pdf
  42. Web site: 5 July 2012 . Skyddande räcke ska stoppa hopp från Västerbron .
  43. Çetin . Gürsel . Günay . Yasemin . Fincanci . Sebnem K. . Özdemir Kolusayin . R. . 2001 . Suicides by jumping from Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul . Forensic Science International . 116 . 2–3 . 157–162 . 10.1016/S0379-0738(00)00370-4 . 11182267.
  44. News: 10 June 2003 . Help signs plan at suicide cliffs .
  45. Web site: 10 September 2007 . La barrière anti-suicide a prouvé son utilité . 25 August 2008 . . fr.
  46. Web site: Torontoist . 26 November 2009 . Subway Suicide Statistics Released .
  47. Web site: Priority One: Suicides on the subway tracks—how many, how often and how to stop them | Toronto Life . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140810201553/http://www.torontolife.com/informer/features/2010/08/10/priority-one-suicides-on-the-subway-tracks%E2%80%94how-many-how-often-and-how-to-stop-them/ . 10 August 2014 . 6 August 2014.
  48. Web site: Zittrer . Janna . 15 April 2004 . Stopping the suicide train .
  49. News: Hudson . Mike . 27 May 2008 . Suicide season . 5 January 2011 . Niagara Falls Reporter.
  50. News: 18 August 2015 . Middletown mayor looks to curb suicides on Arrigoni Bridge . New Haven Register.
  51. News: 29 July 2015 . Connecticut pursuing safety measures to prevent jumpers on Arrigoni Bridge . The Middletown Press.
  52. Web site: Hagstrom . Suzy . 12 October 2000 . Through the Air into Darkness . San Diego Reader.
  53. News: 20 October 2009 . Foresthill Bridge scene of suicide plunge . 5 November 2010.
  54. Web site: 3 December 2007 . Foresthill Bridge . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090505055714/http://www.sacwiki.org/Foresthill_Bridge . 5 May 2009 . 5 November 2010.
  55. Web site: The Sunshine Skyway Bridge Suicide Jumper Report .
  56. News: Jones . Jamie . 6 October 2003 . Skyway safeguards don't deter jumpers . 1 February 2007 . St. Petersburg Times.
  57. Web site: Song Meanings: Skyway Avenue . songmeanings.com.
  58. Web site: Staff . 2022-05-26 . A Journal reader asks, why no safety fences on Penobscot bridge? . 2024-07-09 . Republican Journal . en.
  59. Web site: Genter . Ethan . 2022-12-02 . Body of missing Presque Isle student found on Sears Island . 2024-07-09 . Bangor Daily News . en-US.
  60. Web site: Genter . Ethan . 2021-12-06 . Crisis phones on Penobscot Narrows bridge were out of order the day a woman jumped . 2024-07-09 . Bangor Daily News . en-US.
  61. News: Zabriskie . Phil . The Mysteries of the Suicide Tourist . 13 April 2012 . . New York Media LLC.
  62. News: Messing . Philip . 14 January 2013 . Sad GWB suicide record . 14 January 2013 . New York Post.
  63. News: O'Connor, Timothy . 14 October 2012 . High anxiety: Trooper fights fear to save would-be Tappan Zee jumpers . 16 October 2012 . Newsday.
  64. News: Wong . Ashley . Gold . Michael . 2021-07-29 . Fourth Suicide at the Vessel Leads to Calls for Higher Barriers . 2022-03-12 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  65. Web site: 2021-05-26 . Manhattan's Vessel reopens with focus on suicide prevention . 2022-03-12 . ABC7 New York . en.
  66. News: Kirsch . Noah . 2021-07-29 . Billionaire Developer Mulls Closing NYC Tourist Hot Spot After 14-Year-Old Leaps to His Death . 2022-03-12 . The Daily Beast . en.
  67. News: Stabler . David . February 2, 2013 . Vista Bridge: Is it time to stop the dying at Portland's iconic bridge? . September 22, 2013 . The Oregonian.
  68. News: Stabler . David . July 9, 2013 . Temporary suicide barriers to go up on Vista Bridge . July 10, 2013 . The Oregonian.
  69. Web site: Priscilla Long . 14 March 2003 . Seattle's George Washington Memorial Bridge (Aurora Bridge) is dedicated on February 22, 1932. . 15 January 2008 . HistoryLink.
  70. News: Lewis . Mike . 2 October 2006 . City hopes to dissuade suicidal jumpers . 15 January 2008 . The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
  71. News: Janiskee . Bob . 16 September 2008 . At New River Gorge National River, an Iconic Bridge Attracts Suicide Jumpers . 17 October 2015 . National Parks Traveler.
  72. News: Tyson . Daniel . 25 August 2015 . Man dies after jumping from New River Gorge Bridge . 17 October 2015 . Fayette Tribune . Register-Herald.com, The Register-Herald.
  73. Web site: Echo Point . The Dictionary of Sydney . Delia . Falconer . 2016 . Yet Echo Point's ambiguity and resistance to neatly scripted experience persist, most poignantly in its history as a popular suicide destination, and in the uncertainty that shrouds its Indigenous past. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240303182034/https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/echo_point . Mar 3, 2024 .
  74. Beautrais. Annette L.. Sheree J. Gibb. David M. Fergusson. L. John Horwood. Gregory Luke Larkin. June 2009. Removing bridge barriers stimulates suicides: an unfortunate natural experiment. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 43. 6. 495–497. 10.1080/00048670902873714. 18 August 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100523170101/http://www.chmeds.ac.nz/research/chds/publications/2009/336.pdf. 23 May 2010. 19440879. 205398694.
  75. March 2010. Moral Dilemma. City Talk. Dunedin City Council. 16–18. 2021-11-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20100514121909/http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/103888/CityTalkMarch10.pdf. 2010-05-14. dead.
  76. Web site: Dads in Distress - What's it cost to save a man's life? . https://web.archive.org/web/20110222044236/http://www.dadsindistress.asn.au/helpus.html . 22 February 2011 .
  77. Web site: Remeikis . Amy . Marissa . Calligeros . 2012-02-21 . School resumes for heartbroken Churchie students . Brisbane Times . en . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240111124825/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/school-resumes-for-heartbroken-churchie-students-20120221-1tkyw.html . Jan 11, 2024 .
  78. Web site: Safety barriers for Story Bridge . 6 February 2013 . Tony . Moore . Brisbane Times . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170701031721/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/safety-barriers-for-story-bridge-20130206-2dxvl.html . Jul 1, 2017 .
  79. Web site: Four years ago, Dan Price was seconds from jumping off the Sydney Harbour Bridge. . Jessie . Stephens . Mamamia . 26 February 2019 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240111131508/https://www.mamamia.com.au/dan-price/amp/ . Jan 11, 2024 .
  80. News: Anti-suicide barrier urged for West Gate Bridge. 14 June 2008. 5 January 2011. Mark Dunn. Anthony Dowsley. . dead . https://archive.today/20121230151406/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/anti-suicide-barrier-urged/story-e6frf7kx-1111116630376 . 30 December 2012 .
  81. Web site: Magesky . Lais . 2019-01-21 . Capixabas escolhem projeto de barreira rebaixada para Terceira Ponte . 2019-01-22 . Gazeta Online . pt-br.
  82. News: Hermosilla . Ignacio . 8 April 2023 . "El mall de los suicidios": Fenómeno del Costanera Center y sus polémicas rejas llegan a medio español . . es.
  83. News: Siredey . Francisco . 10 August 2019 . El precio de trabajar en el Costanera . . es.
  84. News: Amorocho . Carlos . 12 April 2012 . El viaducto de los suicidas . . es.
  85. News: Panamericana Televisión . Jul 24, 2011 . Zona de Miedo: Los Fantasmas de Barranco y el Puente Villena . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200103224135/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8z18EVPCFA . Jan 3, 2020 . YouTube.