Document Detail


Railway Suicide in Belgium 1998-2009.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21945845     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Background: Belgium is a country with a high suicide rate (19.1/100,000 in 2004), and railway suicide poses a substantial safety and public health problem. This problem was addressed by the Suicide Prevention Unit of Infrabel (Manager of the Belgian Railway Infrastructure), which collects relevant data and implements a prevention program. Aims: To present data on fatal and nonfatal suicidal behavior on the Belgian railway network, including monthly and regional distribution and identification of hotspots; and to present the Infrabel suicide prevention program. Methods: Analysis of Infrabel data on railway suicide (1998-2009) and comparison with data on suicide in Belgium. Results: A total of 1,092 railway suicides (1998-2009) and 557 suicide attempts (2003-2009) in Belgium (fatality rate of 54%) were studied. Monthly fluctuations were observed, with the majority of suicides occurring in Flanders, followed by Wallonia and Brussels. We identified 34 hotspots accounting for 35% of cases, mostly in Flanders. Conclusions: In 2004 railway suicide accounted for 5.3% of all suicides in Belgium (railway suicide rate of 1.03/100,000). Such a major human and economic loss warrants implementation of prevention measures. Infrabel has initiated a comprehensive suicide prevention program which focuses mainly on safeguarding the suicide hotspots.
Authors:
Karl Andriessen; Karolina Krysinska
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Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-9-26
Journal Detail:
Title:  Crisis     Volume:  -     ISSN:  0227-5910     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-9-27     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8218602     Medline TA:  Crisis     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  1-7     Citation Subset:  -    
Affiliation:
Suicide Prevention Program, Flemish Mental Health Centres, <location>Belgium</location>
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