New balcony restrictions at NYU: the motivation is suicide prevention

University Business, May, 2005

As a result of last year's suicides, the balconies in two of Hew York University's residence halls will be restricted by next fall. However, to allow for fresh air, the balconies will not be sealed, says John Beckman, NYU spokesperson. The university's decision arose out of "research that indicates that restricting the means to taking one's life--such as restricting access to roofs and balconies--reduces suicide rates," Beckman says.

While there is mixed reaction to this decision, Phil Satow, head of the 3ed Foundation, which was established to combat college suicides, applauds NYU's efforts. "What they are attempting to do is an essential element in suicide prevention; it's a step towards improving 'means restriction'," says Satow, whose son Jed, a student at the University of Arizona, took his own life in 1998. "Suicide is often an impulsive act. So if a student goes to that balcony and sees that it's closed off, that student might be discouraged from acting on that impulse."