As Suicides Along Metra Lines Continue, Railway Focuses On Prevention

Metra is looking at ways to address suicides as the Chicago-area rail agency continues to see an alarming number of people taking their lives by stepping in front of incoming trains. Last week, Metra announced it would be installing suicide prevention signs on station platforms along all its 11 lines. The latest announcement is part of an ongoing effort by Metra to address suicides along its tracks as the number of people dying, which includes 17 so far this year, continues to climb.

“When someone dies on our tracks, it affects so many people – from the victim and their family to our engineers, conductors and first responders, to the customers who can be delayed on the train for up to three hours,” said Metra Board Chairman Norman Carlson. “This is a crisis in need of a long-term solution.”

So far in 2017, 17 people have killed themselves by stepping in front of a Metra train, Meg Thomas-Reile, Metra's public relations manager, said. Last year, 20 out of 30 fatalities were apparent suicides. In 2015, Metra had 19 confirmed and suspected suicides and 25 total fatalities along its tracks.

Before that, a similar number of suicides were reported: with 18 suspected in 2014 and 2013 and 16 suspected suicides in 2012.

"As of now, the number of deaths overall does not appear to be significantly different than any other year," Meg Thomas-Reile said.

Just this past week, a 49-year-old Elk Grove Village woman took her own life when she was hit by a freight train in Barrington. The incident, which occurred along Metra's Northwest line, caused major delays throughout the day on Thursday. On Monday, Chicago police reported another suicide that halted traffic on the Brown, Red and Purple lines.

And perhaps one of the most-publicized suicides also occurred along the Northwest line when Metra's executive director Phil Pagano stepped in front of a train in Crystal Lake in 2010. Pagano took his life just hours before he was supposed to meet with the Metra board to discuss his future amidst controversy over his misappropriation of funds, NBC Chicago reported.

In a presentation given at its monthly Board of Directors meeting, Metra’s Chief Safety and Environmental Officer Hilary Konczal unveiled plans to initially partner with the DuPage Railroad Safety Council, the McHenry County Mental Health Board, the Lake County Health Department and other members of the mental health community to develop signs featuring a suicide prevention hotline phone number that an individual who may be depressed, feeling hopeless or suicidal can call for help, Metra announced last week.

This is the first time the agency has committed to installing signs as part of a more comprehensive suicide prevention initiative launched earlier this year.

The signs will be developed and finalized as part of a Mental Health Awareness Symposium to be hosted by Metra in September to coincide with National Suicide Awareness Month. The goal of the symposium will be to develop a short-term action plan with Metra’s stakeholders, expanding its current suicide prevention efforts to include installation of signs in stations and on station platforms by the end of 2017.

“We can’t do this alone,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “We need the insight and expertise of professional mental health care providers in our area to work with us on solutions designed to reverse this trend.”

Other outreach and awareness initiatives, including partnerships with local mental health organizations, will also be explored.

Metra’s suicide prevention initiative includes training, which began in 2015, for front-line employees including engineers, conductors, ticket agents, customer service representatives and transportation managers on how to recognize individuals in despair and how to intervene. The training teaches employees how to identify and approach people who may be suicidal and bring them to safety so they can get the help they need. To date, more than 350 Metra employees have participated in suicide awareness and prevention training.

Metra also promotes railroad safety through its annual Safety Poster and Essay Contest for the region’s schoolchildren. It also conducts nearly 1,000 free Operation Lifesaver presentations annually to schools, community groups, school bus drivers, professional truck drivers, emergency responders and other organizations throughout the region.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

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