WATCH: A bereaved Surrey mother questions why government is not following the recommendations of a coroner’s report. Linda Aylesworth looks at how “suicide barriers” similar to those just installed on the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge could save lives.
Two years after work began on the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, a $20-million safety project has been completed. The sidewalks are now wider to protect cyclists and pedestrians and the railings are nearly three times higher than before in the hopes of deterring suicides.
“When you look at the literature from all around the world it’s clear that it does make a difference. Suicide, in general, actually is often very impulsive,” said VCH Medical Health Officer Dr. John Carsley.
Nasima Nastoh believes that had such a barrier been on the Pattullo Bridge in 2000 her son would not have taken his life.
“It would have given him more of a chance, a minute to think, and people would have seen him and helped him because people saw him on the bridge,” she said.
Seven years ago a provincial coroner recommended that five Metro Vancouver bridges have suicide prevention barriers installed.
Thus far the Ironworkers is the only bridge to have them. The Burrard, Granville, Lions Gate, and Pattullo bridges have yet to have them installed.
READ MORE: Burrard Bridge might have higher fences to prevent suicides
“I don’t know why government is delaying this,” said Nastoh. “We are speaking about people’s lives. We need to do anything to prevent suicide.”
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One problem may be that different governments are in charge of different bridges. The Ironworkers is the responsibility of the provincial government as is the Lions Gate Bridge, which can’t handle the extra weight of such a barrier. Instead, six crisis phones have been installed on the Lions Gate.
“It’s not clear that they’re a great deterrent or a great help,” said Carsley of the phones. “They’re certainly less effective than barriers.”
The Granville Bridge is managed by the City of Vancouver, which says it will deal with the issue of barriers in its next phase of development.
They are also responsible for the Burrard Bridge.
“All the railings have to be replaced because they are so badly deteriorated,” said Carsley. “So when they replace the railings, there will be a barrier.”
That leaves the Pattulo Bridge, last on the coroner’s list of bridges that need to be dealt with.
TransLink, which is in charge of the bridge, says the 80-year-old structure couldn’t handle the wind load that a suicide barrier would cause, so they will wait until a new bridge is built.
The bridge will likely not be replaced any time soon, but TransLink is moving ahead with substantial upgrades.
-With files from Linda Aylesworth
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