TTC subway suicide hotline making a difference

[cheapmeister]

Crisis counsellors slowed or stopped trains 17 times in the first year of a suicide prevention program that saw help phones installed on all Toronto subway platforms.

“The line is definitely being used,” said Karen Letofsky, executive director of the Distress Centres of Toronto, which handles calls placed from subway phones. Dubbed Crisis Link, the program was launched in June 2011.

More than 140 pay phones on all platforms at Toronto’s subway stations were equipped with a button that, if pushed, connects callers to a crisis counsellor at the Distress Centres. Posters placed throughout the stations read: “Thinking of Suicide? There is help. Let’s talk,” and directs people to the phones.

Between June 2011 and June 2012, counsellors asked the TTC to slow trains 13 times, and to stop four times, she said. More than 320 calls were made in the program’s first year, Letofsky said, and nearly 120 of those required help. More than 180 others were pranks, people testing the phones or calling by accident. The number of calls received are about what was anticipated, said Letofsky.

“Clearly this is important, but we also recognize the impact of this goes beyond what might happen in the subway,” she said, adding that Distress Centres are noticing an overall increase in calls following the advent of the program. Distress Centres’ 24-hour telephone support line responds to some 120,000 calls per year.

The number of suicide-related incidents — which include suicides and suicide attempts — on Toronto’s subway system fell last year to 13, half the number that occurred in 2010, said TTC spokesperson Brad Ross.

There have been 10 incidents, including five fatalities, so far this year, said Ross.

He cautioned against attributing the low number last year to any one cause, including Crisis Link.

“It may have saved a life or two,” Ross said. “We can and do stop trains if a call comes in from a phone on a platform.”

Along with the phones, TTC staff is trained to identify potentially suicidal behaviours such as people not taking the first available train and lingering on platforms. Suicide-related incidents on the TTC have declined since a peak of more than 50 in the early 1980s, according to a 2010 report.

The transit commission wants to install platform barriers to keep people off the tracks, but it would cost at least $5 million per station. Platform barriers are widely used in subway systems in Europe and Asia, though still relatively rare in North America.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1226542--ttc-subway-suicide-hotline-making-a-difference

This hotline is a good idea but I wonder what the person that answers tells the caller? Don't jump? Calm down? Your life cannot be that bad right now? However since suicides are down on the ttc, some peeps must be going somewhere else to do it, so its not necessarily like peeps are dying less these days.

[sherman51]

Someone explain to me how a transit barrier can cost $5 million per station?

[wilsonlam97]

Someone explain to me how a transit barrier can cost $5 million per station?

Yeah I'd like to know too.

If I was working in that field, I'm confident that such project would cost no more then $500,000 per station at the most extremes.

[Aznsilvrboy]

Someone explain to me how a transit barrier can cost $5 million per station?

Maybe they must hire union workers to do the installation. The trains and tracks also need to be fitted with new signalling system.

[kingofwale]

Someone explain to me how a transit barrier can cost $5 million per station?

well... 1 works, 4 other supervise, 2 other go for timmy run. and 4 others in short term disability...

5 million sounds reasonable.

[BornRuff]

Someone explain to me how a transit barrier can cost $5 million per station?

It would be an extremely significant installation. It is not just building a wall.

[trixstar]

well... 1 works, 4 other supervise, 2 other go for timmy run. and 4 others in short term disability...

5 million sounds reasonable.

lol !!!

[wilsonlam97]

Maybe they must hire union workers to do the installation. The trains and tracks also need to be fitted with new signalling system.

What kind of signalling system? Connect the door switch on the train to a short-range encrypted radio to signal a controller on the platform doors to close/open.
If that costs $5,000,000 to do then I can't imagine how much it costs to build a car.

[wilsonlam97]

It would be an extremely significant installation. It is not just building a wall.

A wall with doors and electronics.

[nasa25]

well... 1 works, 4 other supervise, 2 other go for timmy run. and 4 others in short term disability...

5 million sounds reasonable.

Only need one for the timmies run - everything else looks correct.

[trixstar]

Only need one for the timmies run - everything else looks correct.

One person can't hold 9 cups of coffee and donuts. He'll/She'll need a second person for assistance.

[tsehou]

A wall with doors and electronics.

You need to line the doors up on the platform with the wall door - unless you are fine with doors being half blocked or being blocked completely when a subway train comes into the station.

A solution would be to slow the train down very slowly as it comes into the station so the drivers line up close enough to the doors, but are you willing to make the subway trains slower about a minute per station so the drivers can do this?

Second, you need to update many other things in the station like the ventilation system. By building a wall on the platform you separate the air flow from the tunnel to the platform, this needs to taken into consideration for issues such as fires and other issues.

There are many more issues to consider, most of them related to safety.

[arclite]

Someone explain to me how a transit barrier can cost $5 million per station?


School board analysts.

[Junigenmukyoku]

well... 1 works, 4 other supervise, 2 other go for timmy run. and 4 others in short term disability...

5 million sounds reasonable.

lmao, reminds me of city construction workers.

[Aznsilvrboy]

What kind of signalling system? Connect the door switch on the train to a short-range encrypted radio to signal a controller on the platform doors to close/open.
If that costs $5,000,000 to do then I can't imagine how much it costs to build a car.

They would need to install ATC as well so the trains can drive themselves. This is required since the train doors need to align with the platform screen doors.

[wilsonlam97]

They would need to install ATC as well so the trains can drive themselves. This is required since the train doors need to align with the platform screen doors.

Or a laser so that the driver knows where to stop.

[wilsonlam97]

You need to line the doors up on the platform with the wall door - unless you are fine with doors being half blocked or being blocked completely when a subway train comes into the station.

A solution would be to slow the train down very slowly as it comes into the station so the drivers line up close enough to the doors, but are you willing to make the subway trains slower about a minute per station so the drivers can do this?

Second, you need to update many other things in the station like the ventilation system. By building a wall on the platform you separate the air flow from the tunnel to the platform, this needs to taken into consideration for issues such as fires and other issues.

There are many more issues to consider, most of them related to safety.

The wall just needs to be tall. It doesn't need to block everything.

[Junigenmukyoku]

They should do something like this.

http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/autopia/images/2008/05/19/shanghai_metro.jpg

I'm glad that the phone is working, but I'm quite surprised by the the amount of prank/testing/accident calls. I think they should have some sort of PR campaign to educate people about this line if they haven't done it yet or posters saying what it's for.

[tsehou]

The wall just needs to be tall. It doesn't need to block everything.

A wall that is a bit taller than a person that is the length of the whole platform has a big effect on air flow and various other things. This isn't just a simple home renovation.

[wilsonlam97]

A wall that is a bit taller than a person that is the length of the whole platform has a big effect on air flow and various other things. This isn't just a simple home renovation.

Educate me on how much TTC and the relating unions are going to gouge on the project costs.

Tell me how much it costs to construct a speed bump for example.


The cost to construct and install a speed hump varies according to the width of the roadway and typically ranges from $2000 to $5000 per speed hump. The City of Toronto estimates the average annual maintenance cost for marking and signing to be less than $100 per speed hump. Snow removal costs are negligible.

Source: http://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/transportation/streets/trafficcalming/speedhumps.asp (Last paragraph)

[kingofwale]

They would need to install ATC as well so the trains can drive themselves. This is required since the train doors need to align with the platform screen doors.

but what will that accomplish?? Isn't there a clause in City agreement with the union that workers cannot be laid off due to technological innovation??

Either the union has no understanding in Economics... or they think they are too much a bully to follow it.

[_Allan_]

What does it take to have platform doors?
Here's a short list:


Install Automatic Signal Systems, to allow trains to start/stop themselves/run by themselves. (in the long run, this alone, will speed up service, and save money as they wouldn't need drivers/guards!)
Install the doors - these are NOT cheap metal studs you find at HomeDepot, I'm sure each section would be able to hold a thousand or so pounds
New wiring to be run, under the platform
All the glass, the lights
The tile repair
The driver training
The fact that all the work would be done AT NIGHT, when they would be paid a slight premium.
The advertisements for telling idiot passengers how this new system works
Recorded messages reminding passengers NOT to stand between the two sets of doors
News Paper ads for telling everyone how safe it is
TV and Radio ads
Press Conference
Having "light duty" (i.e. injured/unfit for driving) staff there for the first 2 months explaining the system.

[_Allan_]

but what will that accomplish?? Isn't there a clause in City agreement with the union that workers cannot be laid off due to technological innovation??

Either the union has no understanding in Economics... or they think they are too much a bully to follow it.

There actually is - from talking to drivers - clauses that say they can't be replaced. However, as people retire, they won't hire new people, they'll just shift others around. (again, from talking to drivers, I don't claim this to be canon.)

[ashs]

Suicides are on the rise. The high school I worked at previously has 3 suicides in the span of 5 months

[Aznsilvrboy]

but what will that accomplish?? Isn't there a clause in City agreement with the union that workers cannot be laid off due to technological innovation??

Either the union has no understanding in Economics... or they think they are too much a bully to follow it.

They can be assigned other jobs to do within the TTC. Leave the driving to the computer.

[BornRuff]

They can be assigned other jobs to do within the TTC. Leave the driving to the computer.

Even if they implemented an automatic system, they would very likely have operators on the trains for a long long time. Making it so that trains can operate without direct driver control, and making it so that they can operate without a driver on board at all are two different things. For example, commercial airliners largely fly themselves these days, but you still need the pilots there to oversee everything. Trains clearly are not the same as airplanes, but retrofitting this old system to be able to safely operate with no humans on board is a long way off.

[retteas]

suicide is for cowards, no sympathies for those who go though with it.

[Revva7]

Usually, people who handle distress calls like this are highly trained in working with people who are wanting to commit suicide. This can range from trained counselors, to registered nurses. I think this is a great idea - with suicide rates on the rise.

Not to single anyone out, but many people who are returning from the war and having major challenges in this area. It is so much so, that Joining Forces are creating partnerships with colleges to train new nursing students on how to treat veterans more effectively.

[Aznsilvrboy]

Even if they implemented an automatic system, they would very likely have operators on the trains for a long long time. Making it so that trains can operate without direct driver control, and making it so that they can operate without a driver on board at all are two different things. For example, commercial airliners largely fly themselves these days, but you still need the pilots there to oversee everything. Trains clearly are not the same as airplanes, but retrofitting this old system to be able to safely operate with no humans on board is a long way off.

I did not say without drivers on board. They could be on stand by like most ATO/ATC systems. In many systems, there's a control centre where the driver is not physically on the train but can remotely operate the trains.