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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT02889731

The "Suicide Guard Rail": A Structural Intervention for Hospitals Avoid Suicides by Jumping From Heights Buildings

Background: Suicides by jumping from the high buildings of acute hospitals are dramatic events which are highly traumatizing to families, staff and fellow pts. In the 10 years from1995 to 2010 the investigators have counted 10 suicide cases despite extensive measures taken to predict and avoid them.

The investigators hypothesized that constructive measures at the windows that would render access more difficult could discourage spontaneous suicidal behaviour and would reduce the suicide rates.

Intervention: Starting in 6/2004, a 20 mm diameter metal guard-rail (which resists 250kg) was installed at each window of a 360 bed acute hospital at a height of 113cm, 18cm above the window parapet with the aim to visually, psychologically and physically discourage potential suicidal impulses.

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Key information

Conditions

Suicide Jumps Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Psychiatry Self-Injurious Behavior Suicide

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • person at risk for suicide

Exclusion criteria

  • no

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Suicide Jumps over ten years

    Time frame: Between 1995 and 2010, measurement 180 months

    Suicide jumps from the heights of acute hospitals are dramatic events which are highly traumatizing to families, staff, and fellow patients. From 1995 to 2004, 10 suicide jumps occurred at the investigators institution despite extensive measures taken to predict and avoid them. The investigators hypothesized that specific barriers rendering access to windows more difficult could discourage spontaneous suicidal behaviour and reduce the suicide rates. Starting in 6/2004, a 20 mm diameter metal guard-rail with a tension strength of 250kg/in2 was installed at each window of the investigators 360 bed acute hospital at a height of 113cm, 18cm above the window sill with the aim to psychologically and physically deter potential suicidal impulses.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Kantonsspital Baden

Other

Collaborators

  • Police department at Baden

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2004
Primary completion
2007
Study completion
2007
First posted
Sep 7, 2016
Registry last updated
Sep 7, 2016

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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