Norman, Hilary; Marzano, Lisa; Winter, Rachel; Crivatu, Ioana; Mackenzie, Jay-Marie and Marsh, Ian. 2023. Factors prompting and deterring suicides on the roads. BJPsych Open, 9(3), e71. ISSN 2056-4724 [Article]

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Abstract or Description

Background
In addition to the devastating impact on the individual and their families, suicides on the roads can cause distress and harm to other people who might be involved in a collision or witness an attempt. Despite an increased focus on the characteristics and circumstances of road-related suicides, little is known about why people choose to end their lives in this way.

Aims
The aim of the current study was to investigate the factors prompting and deterring the decision to attempt suicide on the roads.

Method
We conducted a secondary analysis of survey data, as well as seven in-depth qualitative interviews. Participants had lived experience of suicidal ideation or behaviour at a bridge or road location. We also carried out an online ethnography to explore interactions in different online communities relating to this method of suicide.

Results
Participants perceived a road-related suicide to be quick, lethal, easy and accessible and to have the potential to appear accidental. The proportion of participants who described their thoughts and attempts as impulsive appeared to be higher than had been observed with other method choices. The potential impact on other people was a strongly dissuasive factor.

Conclusions
Measures designed to prevent access to potentially lethal sites may be particularly important, given that many participants described their thoughts and behaviour as impulsive. In addition, fostering a culture of care and consideration for other road users may help to dissuade people from taking action on the roads.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.52
Additional Information:	Funding: This study was funded by National Highways. The study involves secondary analysis of data collected as part of a previous study which was commissioned by Samaritans and funded by Network Rail on behalf of the rail industry. The funders had no role in any stage of the data collection, analysis or writing up of the study.
Data Access Statement:	Data availability: Owing to the sensitive nature of this research, participants of this study were not asked for consent for their data to be made available to others for further research, so supporting data are not available.
Keywords:	Suicide; roads; self-harm; impulsive; suicide method
Departments, Centres and Research Units:	Psychology
Dates:	Date Event 13 March 2023 Accepted 3 May 2023 Published
Item ID:	33444
Date Deposited:	03 May 2023 11:02
Last Modified:	03 May 2023 11:02
Peer Reviewed:	Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.
URI:	https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/33444

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