SPRING-loaded “anti-suicide” fans, enclosing fans in mesh guards or replacing ceiling fans with wall-mounted units---the physical modifications by Indian education institutions to prevent student suicides might be attracting criticism as “bandaid measures” but the approach has been adopted previously by several foreign universities. University of Houston (UH) had in 2023 made changes in its infrastructure, including installation of security fencing around the building and temporary barriers to secure the upper-level balconies, inner stairwell and sky bridges, after two students died by suicide on the campus. Following the incident, the University had created an Agnes Arnold Hall Taskforce and undertook a three-phase renovation.

 

At US’ Cornell University, a cluster of suicides during the 2009-10 academic year, three of which involved university students jumping from or near East Hill bridges within a month, prompted installation of steelmesh nets on bridges spanning the gorges around campus. Harvard University’s “Means Matter” guidelines, based on recommendations contributed by the Suicide Prevention Resource Centre (SPRC) also say that “restricting access to lethal means is one strategy in a comprehensive approach to reducing the risk of suicide on a college campus”. University College London and Brunel University of London also have a policy of installing window opening restrictors in student residences. At Oxford’s Wadham College, students are prohibited from interfering with window restrictors, while access to roofs, parapets and canopies is prohibited. Balconies are also fitted with guard rails. While the restrictions are documented policies by the three institutions, they have not defined whether these are part of a wider suicide-prevention strategy