Caltrain Launches Suicide Prevention Website

By Bay City News Service:

Caltrain has launched a website dedicated to suicide prevention and outreach in recognition of Railroad Safety Month.

The page, www.caltrain.com/ThereIsHelp, lists a crisis hotline number and links to local, regional, and national suicide prevention resources, according to Caltrain officials. Caltrain continues to see suicides taking place on its right-of-way, leading the agency to address what they consider a complex public health issue.

“We are experts at running a railroad, we are not experts at preventing suicide. But by working closely with the mental health community we have learned from experts that suicide can be prevented,” Caltrain executive officer of public affairs Mark Simon said in a statement.

There have been 14 fatalities per year on the Caltrain right-of-way in the past five years, 90 percent of those attributed to suicide, agency officials said.

Suicides attract public attention and impact many people, while also causing extensive service delays as emergency personnel and law enforcement officials investigate the cases, according to Caltrain.

In 2001, Caltrain posted signs along its 55-mile rail corridor with a telephone number to a crisis prevention center and a message that help is available.

In 2010 these signs were redesigned to be more effective, agency officials said.