30 suicide attempts on Warsaw’s bridges in 2023 prompted the initiative. It is part of the “Crisis Assistance on Warsaw Bridges” project, initiated by Karol Bąkowski, a local councilor, and funded by Warsaw’s Civic Budget for 2024.
The green signs come with the message “Nie rezygnuj z życia” [Don’t give up on life].
“These signs are a modest gesture, but they are a starting point for improving the surrounding infrastructure and drawing attention to people in crisis,” said Bąkowski. The signs are currently installed on Poniatowski, Gdański, Północny, and Śląsko-Dąbrowski bridges, and there are plans to place them on all the city’s bridges.
The signs also carry key emergency contact numbers, including the 112 hotline and the city’s 24/7 emotional support line at 511 200 200.
The project aligns with broader efforts by the Capital City Security Center responsible for day-to-day handling of emergency management, which recently increased monitoring on the bridges.
Cameras are positioned to detect dangerous situations, and personnel are trained to quickly alert the emergency services. “We estimate that 14 people were stopped at the stage of attempting suicide on a bridge,” said Aldona Machnowska-Góra, Warsaw’s deputy mayor.
“These bridges, where the signs have been placed, symbolize efforts to support people whose life is in a crisis. They are meant to raise awareness, teach people how to react, and ensure that no one is left without assistance,” said Katarzyna Sękowska-Świątkiewicz, director of the Warsaw Crisis Intervention Center.
