Blue Light Intervention for Railway Suicide Prevention – BLISP
Railway suicides are a significant concern worldwide, including in Sweden, where they account for approximately 80 of the 1,500 annual suicides. Each railway suicide has severe social and economic implications, causing personal tragedy, distress to railway personnel and bystanders, and significant disruption to public and goods transportation.
The Swedish government is committed to halving railway fatalities by 2030 as part of a broader vision of zero traffic fatalities. Achieving this goal requires timely and effective suicide prevention efforts.
A suicide prevention measure from Japan involving blue light-emitting diode (LED) lamps at railway platforms has led to an 84% reduction in suicides over a ten-year period (2000-2010), with no evidence of suicides’ shifting to neighbouring stations. While these studies highlight the potential of the blue light intervention, the reasons for its success are not yet fully understood and require further research.
This project aims to expand the existing knowledge base by gathering indirect evidence about the blue light intervention’s effectiveness in reducing suicides. To achieve this, several experimental and observational studies will investigate possible mechanisms underlying the blue light intervention. These studies include: 1) The impact of blue light exposure on psychological states; 2) The influence of blue lights on passengers’ positioning on railway platforms; and 3) Individuals’ associations with blue lights in the railway setting.
The findings will ideally provide a stronger foundation for decision-makers considering large-scale implementation of this intervention but may also reveal ways to enhance its effectiveness for suicide prevention. Ultimately, this project signifies a step towards implementing life-saving measures and fostering safer railway environments.