Golden Gate Bridge Suicide Barrier

[Megs]

Originally Posted by LV-PRADAfanatic

people shoudl be abel to do what they do as long as thye dun endanger other

Typing on your iPhone? This was a wee bit tricky to read

[Jahpson]

thats sad that such a barrier is even needed

[caitlin1214]

Originally Posted by Megs

Typing on your iPhone? This was a wee bit tricky to read

I believe what was said was, "People should be able to do what they do as long as they don't endanger others."


And to that, I say while there's no physical danger to the other people on the bridge (unless they injure themselves trying to stop the jumper) there's certainly a huge psychological impact on those who witness someone jumping.


I'm certainly not saying that people who want to commit suicide should hide themselves away.

I didn't watch the whole movie but I have seen the trailer and the first three minutes of it on Youtube.

My prayers just went out to those people.

Imagine being that fed up in your own life that you feel there's no other option to put an end to it.

Lord knows my life has not been easy at times, but I never for a second thought about ending it.


Actually, I take that back. I was going through a rough time in middle school and while I didn't think about methods or how I would do it but I did think about the idea of it and what would happen if I did.



I knew that I would never actually go through with it.


I agree a barrier needs to be put in place but at the same time I knew that if someone is that determined to end their life, they are going to find a way to do it.

[lorihmatthews]

I've lived in San Francisco for 13+ years, and I am opposed to this barrier.

I'm of the opinion that a barrier is a poor use of tax dollars, grants or public donations. The number of suicides posted in the article are from the early 1920s to make the number look more sensational. While I can understand why people want this barrier, it is not going to stop people from committing suicide.

*ducks and runs to hide*

[ayla]

Yes - in Toronto, there was huge funding that went into a similar suicide barrier, given it was not on the same size scale of bridge, but a lot of people weren't happy about the expenditure. But hey, Canadians pay for emergency psychiatric care for those that are admitted to the hospital, why not just take it one step further and just make sure that really easy venues to impulsively kill are cut off too..

[karmenzsofia]

I saw that movie about a year ago. If I remember correctly, most of these people had been suicidal for a while. People don't just suddenly get an urge to kill themselves out of the blue, without ever having contemplated it, KWIM? Barrier or no barrier, they will find a way to carry out their plans.

[Roo]

Here's a graph of the suicide numbers from 1937 when the bridge was built to 2006

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object...NKNN61.DTL&o=2

[dusty paws]

My .02 - I live in San Francisco. The bridge itself is gorgeous. But if you put a barrier up, who is to say that will stop people? They will just get more inventive or jump off another bridge we have here (bay bridge, for instance) or go elsewhere.

I don't think the problem is the bridge itself and its lack of suicide protection, per se, but the fact that so many people willingly jump off the bridge. I think we need to focus more on suicide prevention and then we may see results if a barrier is put up.

[candy2100]

In my opinion the importance of preventing someone from committing suicide by jumping off a bridge is not just for the sake of preserving their life but also for the people who are impacted by their suicide- the bystanders and others who live and work nearby.

A similar barrier is going to be installed on the "suicide" bridge in my city.

Funnily enough it was not here but in Paris, France that I was impacted by someone committing suicide. I was underneath, in line, to go into the Eiffel Tower with my husband and three kids when someone jumped from above. It was horrifying and I was able to block my oldests view and go the opposite direction before he or his sisters could know anything was wrong.

It was terribly upsetting that someone would force their pain on so many other people, including a big field trip of teens at the front of the line in clear view. Not only their pain but also that person could fall and kill someone else.

For the people who live in my city near that situation, it's a regular assault on their mental well-being. I don't want anyone to think I don't feel bad for the people who think suicide is actually a good choice, because I do. I just want to also contribute to the discussion about other factors involved in preventing suicides in this manner.

[vbskull]

Originally Posted by lorihmatthews

I've lived in San Francisco for 13+ years, and I am opposed to this barrier. I'm of the opinion that a barrier is a poor use of tax dollars, grants or public donations. The number of suicides posted in the article are from the early 1920s to make the number look more sensational. While I can understand why people want this barrier, it is not going to stop people from committing suicide. *ducks and runs to hide*

I have to agree. It would be awful to see someone killed by taking their own life, but I don't think that putting a barrier on the bridge will stop them. It may prevent them from doing it there but they will just somewhere else. You can only control people up to a point.

[kristie]

When people are truly suicidal, they are thinking of no one else but themselves or who their suicide may effect (people having to witness it).

I really do not think putting a barrier up will do anything other then spend taxpayers money. When someone truly wants to die, they will find another avenue.

It is really sad and I agree that maybe focusing more on prevention than anything would help.

IDK though.....I am in law Enforcement and I can tell you that the current situation with the economy has made the suicide rate go up big time. People are stressed to the max right now.....I cannot even begin to tell you the horrific ways people have successfully killed themselves lately.

[~Fabulousity~]

Originally Posted by HauteMama

I saw this documentary about a year ago. I just struggle with the idea that if the bridge is taken away as a popular suicide location, another will rise in its place. In some areas "jumpers" refer to people who throw themselves in front of oncoming subway trains. If the bridge is taken off the list as a place or method to end one's life, something else will fill in that spot. People who are determined to die usually are successful, and those who aren't usually make half-hearted attempts in which they know they will be found or caught. And while a barrier would save bystanders and law enforcement some shock and dismay, it might cause proportionally more severe trauma to families where a loved one commits suicide in the home instead of off the bridge. While losing a loved one, especially to suicide, is traumatizing no matter what, finding the body yourself or witnessing it in the confines of one's own home is surely worse. However, I would not oppose a barrier. If it even made one person reconsider, it could save many people (family, friends, coworkers, etc.) a lot of grieving.

Great post, I agree.

[~Fabulousity~]

Originally Posted by caitlin1214

I believe what was said was, "People should be able to do what they do as long as they don't endanger others." And to that, I say while there's no physical danger to the other people on the bridge (unless they injure themselves trying to stop the jumper) there's certainly a huge psychological impact on those who witness someone jumping. I'm certainly not saying that people who want to commit suicide should hide themselves away. I didn't watch the whole movie but I have seen the trailer and the first three minutes of it on Youtube. My prayers just went out to those people. Imagine being that fed up in your own life that you feel there's no other option to put an end to it. Lord knows my life has not been easy at times, but I never for a second thought about ending it. Actually, I take that back. I was going through a rough time in middle school and while I didn't think about methods or how I would do it but I did think about the idea of it and what would happen if I did. I knew that I would never actually go through with it. I agree a barrier needs to be put in place but at the same time I knew that if someone is that determined to end their life, they are going to find a way to do it.

When someone is living with major depression depending on how severe it is life for them everyday can be torture. This is what drives people to suicide. Depression is much more than feeling sad, or that life is not easy.
Its great that you knew you would never go thru with it, sounds like your mental health is in tack. Its really, really sad and I hope that people with this illness seek the help they need and the help they get is effective.

[jenna_foo]

I have to agree with Fabulousity's post, that living with major depression can be torture for some.
I personally believe that mental illness is exactly that - an illness, a disease. It is no less debilitating than other diseases or illnesses.

I do not agree that suicidal individuals are thinking of no one else but themselves. While this statement may be true in some cases, it is definitely not true in all cases. Some individuals feel that suiciding actually benefits their loved ones...as in they feel that they are a burden. I hear all too many times that suicide is a selfish act, but in many cases it is actually a selfless act.

More needs to be done to address mental illnesses and suicide awareness and prevention.

[~Fabulousity~]

I watched the entire documentry and wow is all I can say. I definitely have a different POV on suicide now. The one guy who feels he was saved by the seals, thats amazing.