Media Shd tone down the report of Suicides on MRT tracks.
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The high profile reporting will result in more attempts to do so.
Copycat suicides
Suicide rates are influenced by publicity about suicide of famous people, and even the fictional suicide of a character in a popular drama can raise the suicide rate temporarily.
Copycat suicides are defined as duplications of suicides due to repeated accounts or depictions of the original suicide on television and in other media. The well-publicized suicide serves as a model, in the absence of protective factors, to the next suicide. They occasionally spread, like wildfire, through a school system, through a community, or in terms of a celebrity suicide wave, nationally.
Therefore it is customary in some countries that media do not report suicides, except in special cases.
In the book, Suicide Clusters (Boston/London: Faber and Faber, 1987), by Loren Coleman, many specific examples of copycat suicides are given.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide#Copycat_suicides -
If it is not widely reported SMRT will not take any action.
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It is a painful way to die....
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Why the accidents happen, the first thing the SMRT thought of is to install cameras. Whats the point ? You will know what happen but you cant prevent it from happening. Priority shd have been place on implementing safety features.
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Actually heads should have rolled in SMRT (if not already so) for lack of planning and foresight by whoever was in charge of CCTVs. But that's another story that's already been "beaten" to death.Originally posted by tspg:Priority shd have been place on implementing safety features.
There is nothing "worthwhile" for SMRT to implement as safety measures in this instance. These are not cases of "accidental injuries". No amount of safety systems or procedures can prevent "deliberate" incidents.
Any exercise in that direction is not only ineffective but a waste of resource. -
Many countries abroad have open train platforms. Singapore has operated the MRT since 1991 without untoward incidents until recently when a spate of copycat suicides occurred.
While the SMRT should take adequate safety precautions for passengers, I really do believe that the human mind is ingenious and even if the company builds more safety barriers, the suicidal person will just look for loopholes in the safety barriers or think of something more creative. If one is determined to end one's life, there is nothing much others can do really, especially if the suicidal person behaves normally.
The SMRT is not at fault here, and there really is a limit to how much can be done.
We can't tell HDB or commercial building owners to stop constructing high buildings to prevent people from jumping off. Neither can the HDB mandate that all flats should have window grilles kept securely locked all the time.
The issue is one of self-responsibility.
I do agree that perhaps news reports of suicides should be kept minimal to discourage others from being inspired to end their lives in the same manner. -
The MRT system opened in Nov 1987.Originally posted by TidalWave333:Many countries abroad have open train platforms. Singapore has operated the MRT since 1991 without untoward incidents until recently when a spate of copycat suicides occurred.
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The reason why all the suicides are in elevated MRT station, is because the suiciders cannot jump into the track in underground MRT station. Why cannot jump in underground station, the reason is very obvious, right?
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Not all deaths on MRT tracks are suicides. Some may have been accidents. By comparing suicides on MRT tracks and other suicides such as jumping off HDB blocks some ppl have totally missed the point.
The MRT is the back bone of our public transport system. Any delays due to accidents will cause a lot of disruptions to our transport system. The economic cost of such disruptions has to be taken into account also.
The MRT was built in the 1980s. There have been a lot of technological advances since then in the fields of wireless technology and data storage.
I hope the million dollar CEO and minister who are suppose to be the best talents around do something quickly to solve the problem instead of continueing to give excuses. -
tranquilice writes
The MRT system opened in Nov 1987.
Opps, I stand corrected. The initial 67km stretch was only fully functional in July 1990, but the company (as rightly pointed out to me) was incorporated and rolled out its first trains in 1987 (Toa Payoh to Yio Chu Kang only).
tpsg writes,Not all deaths on MRT tracks are suicides. Some may have been accidents..........The MRT is the back bone of our public transport system. Any delays due to accidents will cause a lot of disruptions to our transport system.
Yes, some may have been accidents. But it does appear strange (if not spooky during the Chinese 7th month) that so many have occurred at the same time (within the same week even!). Do you not find it strange that "accidents" have appeared at the same time? Or do you rule out copycat 'accidents'? Or ask why people were standing near the edge of the platform in the first place? Or why 'accidents' only occur when there are incoming trains, or why no one ever has sufficient time to press the emergency alarm, or why there have been 100+ incidents when people were found walking on MRT tracks........
Of course, one cannot be prevented from fainting while waiting for the train. But if one stands behind the yellow line while waiting, the chances of fainting, or tripping and then having the energy/momentum to roll and drop onto the tracks can be minimized. Accidents are liable to occur in all sorts of ordinary situations. The onus is still on the individual to practise self-responsibility and caution.
I think the people who run the MRT are more sensitive and aware of the financial implications, and damage to company reputation than we are.
But my point isn't really about what the SMRT should do, or have not done enough (indeed they are speeding up extra preventive measures now.) It is that if someone wishes to commit suicide, he or she will find a way regardless of technological advances, and there is no foolproof method to prevent it. Not even highly paid-professionals can guarantee accident/suicidal-free train services.
On a final note, it's interesting that people who want to commit suicide, or who do not observe personal safety escape from blame entirely (at least publicly in the media or public forums like this) when these occur....it's always 'the well-paid execs/govt/service providers haven't done enough'. (A bit like Americans who eat McDonalds regularly or smoke daily, find their health in trouble, and then blame someone else....or am I digressing? ) -
there is no way to prevent those suicide cases if ppl wanna die...
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Hey ppl the main point I am trying to make here is that we shd ensure the smooth running of the public transport system.
If terrorists are determind to attack our public transport system does it mean we allow them to do so without taking any precuation because they are determind to die?
Similarly we have to come up with ways to prevent ppl from falling onto or jumping onto the tracks because it will severly disrupt the system.
The estd cost of building enclosed doors is 200 million. If its really necessary then the govt shd come up with the money and solve the prob for good. Ensuring the smooth working and efficiency of the public transport system is their job. -
That doesn't solve anything. The suicides will just take other forms.Originally posted by tspg:The high profile reporting will result in more attempts to do so.
Copycat suicides
Suicide rates are influenced by publicity about suicide of famous people, and even the fictional suicide of a character in a popular drama can raise the suicide rate temporarily.
Copycat suicides are defined as duplications of suicides due to repeated accounts or depictions of the original suicide on television and in other media. The well-publicized suicide serves as a model, in the absence of protective factors, to the next suicide. They occasionally spread, like wildfire, through a school system, through a community, or in terms of a celebrity suicide wave, nationally.
Therefore it is customary in some countries that media do not report suicides, except in special cases.
In the book, Suicide Clusters (Boston/London: Faber and Faber, 1987), by Loren Coleman, many specific examples of copycat suicides are given.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide#Copycat_suicides
More attention instead to why people are committing suicides. -
I think we should wait for the cause/causes of MRT fatalies to be ascertained before we could suggest any solutions. If the cause is accident, then maybe some barriers could be installed. But if it is suicide, then what are the factors and why is MRT the preferred form? If money is the problem, then building barriers which might hike transport cost would only aggravate the problem.
Tend to agree that senzational reports on suicides not only on MRT tracks could bring about copycat suicide esp among the teens. -
If there are measure needed to make the MRT system safer and prevent long delays as a result of accidents or suicides the cost shd be borne by the govt because the MRT is a part of the public transport system. The talk of a price hike is a scare tactic employed by the govt to prevent ppl from demanding safety measures.Originally posted by raihanraihan:I think we should wait for the cause/causes of MRT fatalies to be ascertained before we could suggest any solutions. If the cause is accident, then maybe some barriers could be installed. But if it is suicide, then what are the factors and why is MRT the preferred form? If money is the problem, then building barriers which might hike transport cost would only aggravate the problem.
Tend to agree that senzational reports on suicides not only on MRT tracks could bring about copycat suicide esp among the teens.
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suciide??? says who??? media?
did anyone ask the dead people who "jump" onto the tracks??
maybe these people were just too fedup with the crap of "high' level people who do nothing & relax that these people did something:
just like people in other country who protest by fasting or burning themselves:
it just shows how unconcerned society especially top level people are:
only lots of people died then something will be done -
Of course suicide is the main cause. Bangkok's first mass transit system the 'skytrain' has just had it's 5th anniversary. Not one person has died on the system in that time. That's not just due to good luck of having nobody trip over the yellow line as trains approach.
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A new culture needs to be fostered with regards to courtesy on the MRT lines - not just to reduce the number of accidents on the train service, but as a general improvement to the quality of experience for all the commuters concerned.
People like to stand near the edge of the platform, even when a train is a few minutes away. The waiting lines drawn on the platform itself only serves as a marker for people to cloister around, since it is also a direct indication of where the doors of the train would be in open-air stations.
The stubborn-mindness of the bee-hive collective usually causes all to throw caution to the wind, and crowd even closer to the train doors even before the train comes to a complete halt. The train could suddenly accelerate, and cause people to be sucked into the tracks should they go too near (Benoulli effect). Also, blocking the train doors prevent alighting passengers from making their way out of the train itself, and forces them to elbow their way through the relentless crowd. Such inconsideration leads to stress for everybody concerned.
A better solution needs to be found to this bad culture on our train service. A good early education on coutesy not only helps save lives (you would probably not fall into the tracks so easily if you avoid standing near the edge of the platform), but also promotes an easier commuting experience for all the passengers concerned. Given the extreme cost of private transport in Singapore, trains are an inevitability in life. Let's make it a better experience for everyone.