# The Barriers to Suicide Act: What It Does

This bill creates a federal grant program to help states and local governments install suicide prevention nets and barriers on bridges. The federal government would provide money to cover up to 80 percent of the installation costs, with states and local communities covering the remaining 20 percent. The program would prioritize bridges in areas with high suicide rates, giving those communities first access to funding.

The bill sets aside $10 million per year for five years (2020-2024) to fund these projects. States, cities, and other local governments can apply for grants to install physical barriers like nets or protective fencing on bridges. The idea is straightforward: these barriers can prevent people in crisis from acting on suicidal impulses by creating a physical obstacle. Research shows that even temporary delays can reduce suicide attempts, as the impulse is often immediate and intense. The bill also allows the Transportation Secretary to approve other evidence-based suicide deterrents beyond nets and barriers if research supports their effectiveness.

Additionally, the bill makes technical changes to existing federal highway funding programs to clarify that suicide prevention barriers and nets on bridges are eligible uses of those funds. This removes any ambiguity about whether states can use their regular highway maintenance budgets for these safety installations. Finally, the bill directs a government study to examine whether similar prevention nets and barriers could work on other high-risk structures beyond bridges, like tall buildings or parking garages, and to report back within a year on what's effective and how much it costs.

Barriers to Suicide Act of 2021

Beyer, Donald S.

Barriers to Suicide Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a program to facilitate the installation of evidence-based suicide deterrents on bridges, including suicide prevention nets and barriers. DOT may award competitive grants to states and local governments to carry out the program. The Government Accountability Office must conduct a study to identify the types of structures, other than bridges, that attract a high number of individuals attempting suicide-by-jumping and the types of nets or barriers that are effective at reducing such suicides.