A program to combat an unusual spate of suicides hitting the Metro system is running months late, with no planned start in sight.
Metro had pledged to begin a public education campaign and a training program for employees last fall after the death toll spiked, reaching nine suicides on the train system in 2009, compared to the typical two.
The prevention program was supposed to be running as of February. But now in May, the training hasn’t begun and the education campaign is not public.
Yet the problem hasn’t gone away. At least three people have killed themselves on the transit system so far this year — two on the train system and one who jumped from a parking garage. A fourth tried but survived.
“It’s definitely been delayed,” Metro spokeswoman Angela Gates said.
In September, the agency had said it was partnering with a regional coalition of prevention organizations led by CrisisLink.
But in November, it said it had changed gears and was partnering with D.C.’s Department of Mental Health, the D.C.-based American Association of Suicidology and the Toronto subway system. The plan was to create a public education campaign for riders and an internal training for all Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority employees on how to spot — and stop — suicidal riders.
Alan Berman, executive director of the American Association of Suicidology, said his group and a consortium of others gave the agency a proposal to train workers and evaluate the problem. He last met with officials on the issue six weeks ago but hasn’t heard anything more.
Gates said the suicide prevention campaign is “still in development” and the general manager has proposed setting aside $100,000 for it in next year’s budget. Yet she added they have no estimate for when the program will begin. “Metro remains committed to implementing a suicide prevention campaign,” she said.
Metro isn’t the only agency to grapple with the problem. Railroads and subway systems around the world are targets for suicides, though experts have only begun to quantify the problem in the past few years.
The American Association of Suicidology says the best intervention comes before a person heads to the subway platform. The group urges friends, family and co-workers to take seriously warning signs that include:
» Increased alcohol or drug use
» No reason for living or lack of sense of purpose
» Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
» Withdrawal from friends, family and society
Anyone who needs help themselves or guidance on how to intervene should call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s toll-free number, 800-273-TALK (8255).
