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Suicides from the Golden Gate Bridge: have they changed over time?
1Touro University, USA.
Psychological Reports
|December 2, 2010
Summary
Golden Gate Bridge suicides in 1999-2009 involved younger individuals compared to other county suicides. Recent bridge suicides were older, more male, and more nonwhite than those in the 1970s.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Suicidology
Background:
- The Golden Gate Bridge is a known suicide site.
- Demographic trends in suicide may change over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the demographics of individuals who died by suicide at the Golden Gate Bridge between 1999 and 2009.
- To compare these demographics with suicides handled by the Marin County Coroner and with historical data from the 1970s.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of suicide cases from the Golden Gate Bridge (1999-2009).
- Comparison of demographic data (age, sex, race) with other Marin County Coroner cases.
- Comparison with historical suicide data from the 1970s.
Main Results:
- Suicides from the Golden Gate Bridge (1999-2009) were younger than other county suicides.
- No significant differences were found in sex or race for bridge suicides.
- Witnessed suicides did not differ demographically from unwitnessed ones.
- Compared to the 1970s, recent bridge suicides were older, more often male, and more often nonwhite.
Conclusions:
- Demographic characteristics of Golden Gate Bridge suicides have shifted over decades.
- Understanding these demographic changes is crucial for targeted suicide prevention strategies at high-risk locations.
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