Rescue for the Müngstener Brücke: Citizens' initiative is fighting suicide!

Rescue for the Müngstener Brücke: Citizens' initiative is fighting suicide!

Since 2008, over 60 people have committed suicide on the Müngstener Bridge. The latest incident occurred on May 6, 2025 when another suicide was reported. These terrifying numbers have initiated a new citizens' movement in Solingen. On May 7, 2025, the alliance "Suicide Prevention Müngstener Brücke" was founded, consisting of members of affected people, representatives of different welfare and church associations as well as experts from pastoral care and suicide prevention.

The initiative is a direct reaction to the frequent suicides on this bridge, in which a person jumps off the bridge every five weeks. This sad statistics have led to the creation of a myth around the Müngstener Bridge, which is now considered both as a landmark and as a place of grief. The topics of suicide and suicide prevention are particularly sensitive, with the Müngstener Brücke being used as a central symbol for this problem.

The call for action

A central measure of the alliance is the constitution of a resolution that is aimed at politics and Deutsche Bahn. It requires that protective measures are urgently taken on the bridge. The proposed measures include attaching networks and securing access to the bridge. These ideas are based on knowledge from suicide research, in particular from the study "Kikolo - Prevention Bridge Suicide" of the Bern Alliance against Depression, which shows that security measures on bridges can reduce suicide rates in the long term.

A striking example from the USA proves that only 5 percent of the people who were prevented from jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge later committed suicide. These facts underline the urgency of the required measures. The citizens' initiative is convinced that suicide prevention must be addressed as a social task to protect the lives of many people.

public vigil and further steps

In order to draw attention to the resolution and the need for protective measures, a vigil in the city center of Solingen will take place on June 7, 2025. This event is intended to set an example and raise the voice of those affected by the tragic events around the Müngstener Brücke.

The work of the alliance is significantly supported by the Hinas (survivors according to suicide), which have been committed to securing the bridge and the prevention of suicides for years. With initiatives such as events on bridge protection and information stands, an attempt is made to generate more support in politics and society.

The Müngstener Brücke remains a place of enormous emotional weight. A collective effort is required to develop courage and hope again. It is clear that every step to improve security on this bridge also represents a step towards the prevention of suicides. The social discourse on this sensitive and tragic part of our reality must be continued.

Further information on the backgrounds and previous measures can be found on Radio RSG href = "https://www.tabusuizid.de/ueber-uns/muengstener-bruecke/"> Tabu suicide and the Contextualizing platform .