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Golden Gate Bridge suicide info?

Antarius said:
Daks, please... stop it.

Enough of the fucking nanny state. We don't need more laws written that protect ourselves from ourselves. We need more personal responsibility, not more laws.

Period. End. Of. Story.
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It is the #1 suicide spot in the world. And the amazing thing is that it is in one of the most "progressive" places in the world.

The simple lack of a suicide barrier sends the message that society actually wants you to jump. The mere presence of one would slash the number of jumpers substantially.

Don't take my word for it. Take the word of someone that jumped and lived.

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Lethal-Beauty-A-Survivor-s-Story-A-jumper-2598731.php

When Kevin disembarked, he stood for a while in the parking lot. Then he walked out onto the span, looking for a good spot to jump, where he wouldn't hit a pillar on the way down. The sun was breaking through the fog, creating a hazy, golden light. He was crying as he walked. A female police officer on a bicycle passed him without stopping, and then two bridge workers in buggies. Kevin's voices were insistent now: "You have to die!" He thought if only somebody would show he or she cared, he wouldn't jump. Just then, he was approached by a glamorous woman wearing huge sunglasses. "It's OK!" he thought. "She cares."

The woman held out a camera and in a German accent asked him to take her picture. She ignored his tears. When she walked away, Kevin turned, took three running steps, and plunged toward the green, calm water.
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People on the brink only need a small push in the right direction. The lack of a barrier is a push in the wrong direction.
 
afm199 said:
No, they'll just go find another way to kill themselves, however.
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As I already said, that is a myth. Very few people stopped from jumping off the bridge go on to kill themselves. The one study I already posted about had that number at 6%.
 
Traq said:
It is the #1 suicide spot in the world. And the amazing thing is that it is in one of the most "progressive" places in the world.

The simple lack of a suicide barrier sends the message that society actually wants you to jump. The mere presence of one would slash the number of jumpers substantially.

Don't take my word for it. Take the word of someone that jumped and lived.

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Lethal-Beauty-A-Survivor-s-Story-A-jumper-2598731.php



People on the brink only need a small push in the right direction. The lack of a barrier is a push in the wrong direction.
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What's more progressive than the right to take your own life? Not that it's 'legal' of course..
 
Traq said:
As I already said, that is a myth. Very few people stopped from jumping off the bridge go on to kill themselves. The one study I already posted about had that number at 6%.
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Thwarted or prevented? I would suspect there is a difference between the example of someone who was stopped in the attempt of suicide vs. proactively preventing a suicide option?

The data would be hard to gather in the Canadian bridge example as many people who jumped drove from outside of that city to jump. Thus just monitoring suicide rates in that city pre and post netting would not be conclusive.

I would suspect that the topic of this thread is another example of how mental health care in the US is lacking recognition of how important it is.
 
Not on either the pro or anti-net side, just sharing a story.

I worked at a BofA back in the mid 90's. Very small branch and you knew the regulars. One guy used to come in and deposit his pay check from the GGB disstrict. I have no idea exactly what he did there and never really wondered. But one day he came in wearing a polo shirt with the GGB logo on it. The short sleeves revealed cuts and scratches all up and down one arm and a few gauze patches covered what were probably the worst ones. I asked what happened and he said he works on the bridge and part of his job is handling jumpers. Trying to talk them down etc... He kind of implied that it's part of everyone's job of you work there. Said there was a guy over the rail and he was talking to him trying to get him to come back over. The guy jumped and he reached out and grabbed his shirt. The guy dangled there for a second, then apparently changed his mind and tried to pull himself back up. Panicked, the guy scratched the hell out of him trying to get back over the rail and that's how he got all the scratches. No, he didn't make it.
 
My900ss said:
Do you suspect people look at the bridge and are inspired to jump to their death or would you guess people who want to die, while looking for a location/means, settle on a bridge?
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I'll say this, it's a beautiful spot if it's going to be the last thing you see.
 
Ant said:
They should just lower the bridge a few hundred feet so you can't get hurt if you jump.
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Eh, Global warming will bring the water level up close enough that it won't be much of a drop...


But seriously, the GGB is such an iconic image, I think some people just think of it as some sort of beacon ( I'll make it to The Bridge, then... ) - remember, most people committing suicide aren't thinking very rationally to begin with.

Would better barriers (from the start) have prevented a large number of suicides there ? Probably.

Would the impact on 'the view' from the bridge be worth those lives ?
One thing for sure, dead people don't pay taxes...
 
Hawaiirider said:
Eh, Global warming will bring the water level up close enough that it won't be much of a drop...


But seriously, the GGB is such an iconic image, I think some people just think of it as some sort of beacon ( I'll make it to The Bridge, then... ) - remember, most people committing suicide aren't thinking very rationally to begin with.

Would better barriers (from the start) have prevented a large number of suicides there ? Probably.

Would the impact on 'the view' from the bridge be worth those lives ?
One thing for sure, dead people don't pay taxes...
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How can you assume they are not thinking rationally when suicide is not by default irrational?

I expect the pleasing calm of the fog helps set the mood too.
 
It is my opinion that many suicides are NOT rational acts. I have some experience with them - family, friends.

Sure, if you are sick and choose an efficient end rather than a painful, lingering decline - that may be entirely rational - and ought to be a right, in my view....but

How many moody young folks ended it all just because Jenny went out with Mark ? How many because they couldn't face dad and say they liked guys, or whatever.

The phrase "a permanent solution to a temporary problem." is a bit too cliché', I know - but it DOES describe a fair portion of 'impulse acts' - is the answer better mental health care or taller fences ?

I dunno.
 
You know, if I were suicidal, and there were a barrier on the GGB, I think I'd take pride in being the first person to whip up a batch of and bring their own thermite and burn through any barrier.

It might reduce the number, but increase the motivation factor for those really bent on it.
 
I have no doubt a barrier would work, however I don't want to live in a world where we have to put rubber baby bumpers on everything because of a very slim minority who make bad decisions.

Did you know lots of people die on motorcycles every year? That's why I'm vocally advocating for the installation of training wheels on all motorcycles by 2016. End the madness.
 
Abyss said:
... I don't want to live in a world where we have to put rubber baby bumpers on everything .
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Sounds like you're ready to jump, better hurry up before the net goes up.

I missed the part where it was suggested to put bumpers on everything.
 
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