Suicide prevention messaging
- Description
- Notable Practices
- Images and Audio
- References
Suicide prevention messaging seeks to help individuals who experience suicidal thoughts, or may in the future, by raising awareness about resources and encouraging individuals to seek help for themselves or others. Public messaging often includes a helpline number to call or text, website information, and a supportive message of hope. Types of media to convey this information include:
- Physical or digital signage
- Brochures
- News articles
- Social media
- Websites
Suicide prevention messaging may help to interrupt and redirect thoughts of suicide in a moment of crisis. Ideally, messaging reaches someone before they consider suicide by helping to normalize and encourage help-seeking before a crisis occurs. Individuals may also be empowered to share these resources with loved ones who need support. One study showed that suicide prevention messaging can increase help-seeking behaviors, including increased calls to the promoted helpline [1].
Efforts should focus on suicide generally rather than suicide specifically in the rail environment to avoid highlighting a specific means. With a more general campaign for suicide prevention, the rail carrier may be seen as a partner in a larger community effort. Suicide prevention messaging may also help to change ambivalent or negative attitudes about rail suicide prevention [2].
Messaging can be placed within and outside of the rail environment within the larger community. This broader distribution of a consistent message helps to reach as many vulnerable individuals as possible and avoid unintentionally highlighting the rail system as a possible means for suicide.
Suicide prevention messaging may involve partnering with suicide prevention groups at the local, state, or national level (see Community stakeholder collaboration), including: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); and Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC). Many of these groups provide free online resources. Numerous rail carriers in the United States have implemented suicide prevention messaging in collaboration with these groups [3].
Additional search terms: media, messages, signage, sign
- Focus messaging on hope, seeking help, supporting those in need, and avoid directly addressing rail as a specific method [4]. Do not include rail-specific information in the suicide prevention messaging to avoid inadvertently highlighting the rail environment as a potential means to complete suicide.
- Decide whether the campaign will target a specific population (e.g., through data analysis), and tailor the campaign to the intended audience.
- Place messaging in high-traffic locations in the rail environment and throughout the community such as businesses near the tracks and community gathering spaces, as well as where suicide attempts have occurred in the past.
Images:
Audio:
[1] Too, L. S., Ross, A., Pirkis, J., Reavley, N., & Reifels, L. (2020). The Impact of the “Pause. Call. Be Heard” Campaign on Help‐Seeking and Suicidal Behaviors Within Rail Environment in Victoria, Australia. Suicide and Life‐Threatening Behavior, 50(2), 490-501.
Abstract: Objective: To assess the impact of the “Pause. Call. Be Heard” campaign on helpseeking and suicidal behaviors within rail environment in Victoria, Australia. Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted to measure noticeability of and engagement with the campaign and help-seeking intentions and behaviors among rail commuters at 10 rail stations. We generated descriptive statistics to report these data and used logistic regression models to examine the association between campaign-related factors and help-seeking. Changes in Lifeline crisis calls and rail suicide behaviors from precampaign to campaign periods were examined using proportion tests. Results: About 25% of rail commuters noticed the campaign and rated the materials as “moderately noticeable.” Over half of these individuals correctly identified the campaign intentions and 75% engaged with the materials. Approximately 80% indicated that the materials increased their help-seeking intentions and about half indicated that they had engaged with help-seeking and/or self-caring behaviors. Engaging with the campaign was positively associated with help-seeking. A significant increase in crisis calls but not in suicide-related calls, and a nonsignificant decrease in rail suicidal behaviors were found during the campaign period. Conclusions: Continued implementation of the campaign is warranted as it showed some desirable effects on help-seeking among rail commuters.
[2] Rail Safety and Standards Board. (2014). Network Rail/Samaritans Tackling Suicide on the Railways programme: Annual Report 2013 Annex E: Case studies of different elements of the programme. London, England: Rail Safety and Standards Board.
Document Excerpt: These case studies combine data from other parts of the evaluation with additional data from the interviews with those directly involved in the programme activities. The case studies illustrate the complexity of delivering these activities across multiple organisations and locations, resulting in varying levels of success in implementation and outcomes. [See pp. 19-22]
[3] Gabree, S. H., Hiltunen, D., & Ranalli, E. (2019). Railroad Implemented Countermeasures to Prevent Suicide: Review of Public Information. (No. DOT/FRA/ORD-19/04). Washington, DC: Federal Railroad Administration.
Abstract: The public discussion of railroad safety initiatives can help to improve safety, either directly with the public through an increased awareness, or by encouraging other carriers to consider similar safety efforts. Rail carriers are often quick to promote trespass and crossing safety efforts, however, efforts to mitigate rail suicide are often not discussed. Suicide is unique from other rail safety topics in that it requires more precise language when discussing publicly. Responsible discussion of suicide prevention can increase the availability of information on how to get help, while limiting the dramatization of these events, thereby reducing the likelihood of copycat events. In this report, the authors conducted web-based searches to identify rail-specific efforts to mitigate suicide that have been publicly discussed, either by the carrier themselves or through the media. Generally, there is limited discussion of suicide-specific prevention efforts being undertaken by rail carriers, and the level of detail provided about these efforts varies. In total, 14 carriers and a range of strategies were identified including fencing, signage, detection and monitoring, training of employees and authorities, public and industry events, websites, and media guidelines. Partnerships with suicide prevention groups, both local and national, were most often discussed.
[4] RESTRAIL. (2019, July 19). 17.1 Targeted campaign to prevent suicide. Restrail Toolbox.
Description: This webpage provides information on implementing targeted rail suicide prevention efforts in Europe, including recommendations, considerations for implementation, and relevant research results.
Description: SAMHSA website that provides 988 messaging resources, including a toolkit, best practices and other materials.