Jumping off a bridge with suicidal intent

Jumping from bridges is a rather rare method of suicide recorded in the population with a high degree of trauma and mortality. An analysis of key characteristics, factors and risk groups indicates a certain specificity of the contingent, which differs from other categories of suicide attempters. In many countries, this is usually a young male with a secondary education, single, suffering from a mental illness with experience in observation and treatment by a psychiatrist, without a permanent job experiencing financial difficulties. Due to the impact of negative psychosocial factors, they are in a state of prolonged stress, depressive, have experience of self-harm and less often suicide attempts. Suicidal behavior is formed over a long period, determined by the trouble motives with a true desire to die, actions are planned. Suicidal ideas, as a rule, are not hidden, most potential victims, on the contrary, voice them to others and are ready to discuss them. For the Russian Federation, given the lack of studies on this issue, this profile is probably not entirely accurate. We can assume higher rates of participation of women with a predominance of emotional disorders in the clinic and greater impulsiveness of suicidal behavior. Knowledge of these features is important for improving the effectiveness of individual work and medical suicide prevention. Non-medical prevention measures (setting restrictive barriers, helplines on bridges, etc.) are also of great importance, and they have already proven to be highly effective in many countries. In conclusion, the authors believe that the problem cannot be solved only by medical workers and psychologists, but requires the involvement of specialists in various fields, including architects and designers, whose tasks, when designing bridges, should include the necessary principles and systems of general security, in including taking into account the restriction of free access to open high platforms for jumping. These issues need to be addressed in the modernization of existing bridges. Thematic training on the issues of suicide prevention for police officers (especially those working near "hot spot" bridges), the Ministry of Emergency Situations, social services, as well as work with the media and Internet resources is also important. Such an integrated approach as a whole will make it possible to minimize the number of such tragedies, as well as prevent the formation of iconic places from individual bridges that attract new people who want to commit suicide by jumping from the bridge.