SEPTA Putting Up Suicide Prevention Signs at Norristown Station
Tomorrow, SEPTA says it will put up suicide-prevention signs at Norristown Station. SEPTA has seen several recent incidents of people being hit by trains, including a suspected suicide on the Paoli-Thorndale line several months ago.
The signs, put up as part of Worldwide Suicide Prevention Day, are done in a partnership with Montgomery County Emergency Services and feature the number (1-800-273-8255) for the suicide prevention hotline. SEPTA told Philly.com about half of the fatalities on its system are suicides.
Last year, SEPTA General Manager Joseph Casey speculated about the reason for an uptick in deaths from SEPTA trains. “The economy, I think that is the main reason,” he told the Inquirer. “If someone wants to do themselves in, there’s only so much you can do.”