The installation of safety nets on the Golden Gate Bridge has significantly reduced suicides, according to a new study published in Injury Prevention.
The research found that suicides at the bridge have dropped by 73% in the first year since the nets were completed.
The Golden Gate Bridge, a famous landmark in San Francisco, has also been known as a common site for suicide.
To prevent deaths, safety nets were installed beneath the bridge, with construction finishing in January 2024.
This decision was controversial, and until now, no study had examined how effective the nets are.
Researchers looked at suicide rates before, during, and after the installation of the nets. They analyzed data from January 2000 to December 2024, dividing the time into three phases:
- Before installation (2000–2018) – An average of 2.48 suicides per month
- During installation (2018–2023) – A 26% decrease, with 1.83 suicides per month
- After installation (2024) – A 73% drop, with 0.67 suicides per month
The study also examined cases where third parties, such as bridge staff or passersby, intervened to prevent suicide. These interventions increased during the construction period but declined slightly after the nets were finished.
- Before installation – 8.22 interventions per month
- During installation – 14.42 interventions per month (a 75% increase)
- After installation – 11 interventions per month (a 34% increase from before installation)
Researchers believe that fewer people may have visited the bridge intending to jump after the nets were installed, which could explain the drop in third-party interventions.
The researchers acknowledge some limitations in their study. Since they only had one year of data after installation, longer-term effects are still unknown.
There is also the possibility that some suicides were misclassified as accidental drownings. Another unanswered question is whether people who intended to jump from the Golden Gate Bridge turned to other locations or methods instead.
Still, the researchers emphasize that the results provide strong early evidence that safety nets are an effective way to prevent suicides. They encourage policymakers to consider installing barriers at other high-risk locations worldwide.
Many bridges around the world have been sites of suicide attempts, and this study supports the idea that physical barriers can save lives.
While further research is needed, the findings from the Golden Gate Bridge show that safety nets can make a significant difference in suicide prevention.
