Suicidal Bridge Jumping in the Metro Vancouver Regional District from 2006 - 2014

• In Event: Homicide and Suicide Victimization

Abstract

In the past decade, there have been many structural changes implemented to Vancouver’s largest bridges as a means of deterring criminogenic and suicidal behaviors. Guided by an environmental criminology theoretical framework, this research examines the patterns and trends of 201 cases of successful suicide jumping in the Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD) of British Columbia, Canada from 2006 to 2014. To evaluate these trends and to bolster the existing literature on deterrence measures through environmental design, this research will examine the spatial relationship between preferential bridge jumping locations and the home addresses of the deceased. Network analysis of 145 bridge jumpers indicates that the intersection between suicide ideation and behavioral commitment is not opportunistic and that suicidal people are willing to travel greater distances to jump from more iconic bridges than those closest to their home. Dwelling types, demographic profiles, and regional prevalence in the MVRD have also been aggregated and explored in this study.

Authors

• Vienna Chichi Lam, Simon Fraser University

• Bryan Kinney, Simon Fraser University

• Lynne S. Bell, Simon Fraser University