Background: Bystanders can play a key role in preventing railway suicides by taking direct action or by raising an alarm. Aims: The study investigated in this context: (1) the prevalence of preventative actions by bystanders; (2) the relationship, if any, between first-hand preventions by bystanders and the degree of ambiguity around the imminence of danger; and (3) the nature of first-hand preventions by bystanders. Method: Data were obtained from a security reporting database at Sydney Trains for 2011-2019 for accident and suicide-related incidents (N = 1,278). Results: In 635 cases of suicide prevention, bystanders were identified as first responders in 11% of cases and as raising the alarm in 11% of cases. Bystanders as first responders intervened proportionally more where the ambiguity of danger is low (jumping) compared with high (sitting, standing, wandering). Of the 69 cases of bystander preventions, 77% involved physical interaction (e.g., holding back) and 49% involved more than one bystander. Limitations: The data source could be biased because of incompleteness or nonstandard reporting. Conclusion: Rail policy-makers should consider education and support for bystanders and staff: for example, by making known the prevalence of helping, the importance of intervening, and what types of intervention are most helpful.
Background: Bystanders can play a key role in preventing railway suicides by taking direct action or by raising an alarm. Aims: The study investigated in this context: (1) the prevalence of preventative actions by bystanders; (2) the relationship, if any, between first-hand preventions by bystanders and the degree of ambiguity around the imminence of danger; and (3) the nature of first-hand preventions by bystanders. Method: Data were obtained from a security reporting database at Sydney Trains for 2011-2019 for accident and suicide-related incidents (N = 1,278). Results: In 635 cases of suicide prevention, bystanders were identified as first responders in 11% of cases and as raising the alarm in 11% of cases. Bystanders as first responders intervened proportionally more where the ambiguity of danger is low (jumping) compared with high (sitting, standing, wandering). Of the 69 cases of bystander preventions, 77% involved physical interaction (e.g., holding back) and 49% involved more than one bystander. Limitations: The data source could be biased because of incompleteness or nonstandard reporting. Conclusion: Rail policy-makers should consider education and support for bystanders and staff: for example, by making known the prevalence of helping, the importance of intervening, and what types of intervention are most helpful.
Entities:
Keywords:
bystanders; first responders; prevention; railway; suicide
Authors: Shirley Gregor; Gary Beavan; Adrian Culbert; Priscilla Kan John; Nguyen Viet Ngo; Byron Keating; Ruonan Sun; Ibrahim Radwan Journal: Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot Date: 2019-09-04
Authors: Peter Fischer; Joachim I Krueger; Tobias Greitemeyer; Claudia Vogrincic; Andreas Kastenmüller; Dieter Frey; Moritz Heene; Magdalena Wicher; Martina Kainbacher Journal: Psychol Bull Date: 2011-07 Impact factor: 17.737