(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – The man in charge of safety at Metra says there's been a rise in the number of suspected suicide attempts involving trains that employees have been able to prevent.
Metra staff are taught to watch for signs of someone who appears to be preparing to harm themselves by getting in front of a moving train.
Whenever a worker successfully prevents that from happening, it's called an "intervention."
The number of interventions has risen significantly this year, Hilary Konczal, Metra's chief safety officer, said Friday. There have been 97 interventions so far in 2023, compared to 61 for all of last year.
The numbers can mean two things. One is that the number of suicide attempts could be rising.
The other is that the training of Metra workers is effective, with more potential suicide attempts being spotted and prevented, Konczal said.
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