Train suicides in Brisbane, Australia, 1980-1986

Train suicides have not been widely studied, but this mode of suicide is one which results in high mortality and disfigurement, considerable trauma to bereaved relatives, and often considerable psychological difficulties for those indirectly involved such as train drivers and onlookers. The placement of psychiatric hospitals close to railways and the advisability of erecting barriers have sometimes been hotly debated. This survey of 23 train suicides in Brisbane, Australia, addresses these issues. It shows that 57% of the victims had been treated for schizophrenia, and 57% were also psychiatric inpatients at the time of the incident. Forty eight percent of the deaths occurred close to the regional psychiatric hospital. Fifty two percent were young adults aged 15-29 years. All suicides occurred during daylight or within 2 h of sunset. These results are similar to those from another study in the same city which implicated schizophrenia in jumping from heights--also a grossly self-mutilating behavior. The erection of barriers to reduce mortality from train suicide was not considered a feasible solution for Brisbane, but other cities might benefit from such measures.