By Khalida Sarwari
Caltrain riders today might notice new signs posted along a 10-mile segment between Mountain View and Menlo Park aimed at preventing suicide on the tracks.
The trespass and suicide prevention signs say, “There is help,” with a hotline number to the Youth and Family Services Crisis Intervention and Prevention Center in San Carlos. Next to that sign is another sign that reads “No Trespassing” with phone numbers to report people on the tracks.
The signs are part of a study being conducted by the American Association of Suicidology, a national organization dedicated to suicide prevention, involving Caltrain and two other railroads on the East Coast.
The goal is to determine how effective signs are in preventing suicides on railroads. To that end, the hotline number will be answered and tracked by the San Carlos crisis intervention agency.
Eventually Caltrain hopes to install 250 of the signs at a maximum distance of 528 feet apart on fences, gates and station platforms; at grade crossings; and along the property line.
Caltrain is dedicating $110,000 to the project after four people committed suicide on the tracks during a six-month period last year. Five teens associated with Gunn High School also killed themselves between May 2009 and January 2010.
Caltrain held meetings with community representatives to address the problem. The design and location of the signs was guided by input from local mental health professionals.
Existing suicide prevention signs near the tracks spell out the hotline number in letters and words, which Caltrain officials believe is not very effective on newer phones. The new signs have numerals.
At a news conference this morning introducing the pilot project, Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss expressed support for the new signs.
“I hope this kind of signage will make a big difference to kids who need to talk to someone,” Kniss said. “We’re also looking at the idea of a ubiquitous 1-800 number so that when you call it you’re always getting the same support that you would hope to get.”
Omar Ahmad, a Caltrain board member and San Carlos City Councilman, reminded the community that suicide affects everyone, including law enforcement.
“When you deal with accidents like these, it is a changing experience for everyone involved,” Ahmad said.
Anyone who would like information about rail safety education and tips can call (650) 508-7934 or visit www.caltrain.com.