Group proposes barriers, signs at Reversing Falls Bridge

The Reversing Falls Bridge is a Saint John landmark. It's also a place where people attempt and sometimes die by suicide.

Now, the Saint John Community Suicide Prevention Committee is proposing preventive measures, including signs directing people to call for help, and physical barriers to stop people from jumping.

Greg Zed is the committee's chair. He says measures like this have been proven effective.

"We do know in the study of suicidology that if you reduce the way people commit suicide and you mitigate the risk of suicide, it does have a dramatic effect," said Zed.

Saint John Police were not able to provide statistics on suicide and suicide attempts at Reversing Falls. However, information presented by Zed in a letter, suggests officers are called to the bridge, on average, once every 12 days.

Success in Halifax

In 2009, the Halifax Harbour Bridges agency began installing fences and signs on both sides of the Macdonald bridge, one of two bridges that cross the harbour. It had been a frequent site for distraught individuals.

While officials have a policy of not disclosing statistics, communications manager Alison MacDonald said, "We know they have saved lives. When you reduce the means, you can reduce incidents." 

Signs on the bridge are placed at both ends, and near permanently installed telephones. They urge people who need help, or see others in need to phone authorities.

MacDonald says having that lifeline is another defence against suicide at the site.

"The phones go directly to our operations centre, and this allows us to dispatch someone quickly to help them," she said. 

According to a presentation Halifax Harbour Bridges made to the Canadian Mental Health Association, the project cost more than $1 million. However, the span is significantly longer than the Reversing Falls Bridge.

The bridge is a provincial responsibility. Zed's group sent a letter last year to to an official with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, but have not heard back. CBC contacted the department and a spokesperson replied by email, saying they would need more information on the proposal before commenting. 

Support in Saint John

City councillor Bill Farren is supportive of the measures being proposed by the Saint John Community Suicide Prevention Committee.

"If it's going to be doable by the province, I would certainly be supportive. I know I've lived here all my life and there have been a number of people who have used that bridge to take their own lives," he said. 

"Anything that prevents any of that would certainly be favourable to me."

Even if installing barriers on the Reversing Falls Bridge was determined to be unfeasible, Zed says signs, similar to those in Halifax, would help.

"We want to instill hope in that individual that despite their dark cloud, or the dark hole they're in, help is available," he said.