Grim portrait of Golden Gate Bridge suicides: 74% of jumps have been witnessed

DearStings wrote:

who's forgetting the 1 person a year on average that gets "pegged"? It's been mentioned over and over in these comments as an alternative to spending money on the 2 or 3 DOZEN people who jump. Why does it have to be one or the other? What does one have to do with another? Why is the drunk who gets pegged more worthy of saving than the depressed soul who jumps?

JustTheFacts for Margot wrote:

"...can it be proved that the existence of the bridge causes suicides?"
Well sure, Margot, the proof? That would be the 1300 bodies under the bridge.

Weekday_Warrior wrote:

I was in the Headlands one evening a few years ago shooting photos of the bridge at dusk. It was one of those rare, perfectly calm evenings leading into a warm spell when you could actually hear the engine of a ship entering the bay from about half a mile away up on the hillside. It got dark and I started to put my camera away when I noticed red flashing lights on the bridge headed south from Marin approaching mid-span. I decided to set up my camera again to take advantage of the red lights. About 25 seconds later I heard a 'thud' in the distance -- it was definitely the sound of something hitting the water. A few seconds later, a flare dropped from the bridge and landed on the water where it floated into the bay with the incoming tide. A few minutes later the lights of two Coast Guard boats appeared from behind the North Tower and headed towards the flare. The Coast Guard boats started launching overhead flares to light up the area while they searched. After several minutes the two boats converged on a spot and after a few more minutes they sped back to the Marin side. Despite being maybe 20 minutes from start to finish and not really seeing it up close, it was pretty surreal and left me humbled. On my walk back to the car I thought if I ever published/sold those photos I'd donate all proceeds to a suicide prevention organization. But the slides are still sitting in the box.

Karen wrote:

<quoted text>
You obviously haven't the slightest notion what drives a suicidal person to the brink. It certainly isn't the mere existence of a bridge. Yes, the fact that it is there provides them with the means, but it does not cause them to take their life. People who kill themselves often--I'm saying often, not always--plan it out over a period of time, and choose their method beforehand. I know about this because I've known suicidal people and none of them jumped from the Golden Gate, even though it was right there. Yes this is a little late but I just finished watching "The Bridge".

Jeff wrote:

Let's get a head on collision barrier in place first before we waste money on a feel good bridge- defacing suicide barrier.
Every driver crossing the bridge and paying an outrageous and possibly illegal toll--it's been paid off for a long time--is in danger of dying in a head on.
A few people that chose to end their lives here or elsewhere are more important than these millions of drivers?

Weekday_Warrior wrote:

I was in the Headlands one evening a few years ago shooting photos of the bridge at dusk. It was one of those rare, perfectly calm evenings leading into a warm spell when you could actually hear the engine of a ship entering the bay from about half a mile away up on the hillside. It got dark and I started to put my camera away when I noticed red flashing lights on the bridge headed south from Marin approaching mid-span. I decided to set up my camera again to take advantage of the red lights. About 25 seconds later I heard a 'thud' in the distance -- it was definitely the sound of something hitting the water. A few seconds later, a flare dropped from the bridge and landed on the water where it floated into the bay with the incoming tide. A few minutes later the lights of two Coast Guard boats appeared from behind the North Tower and headed towards the flare. The Coast Guard boats started launching overhead flares to light up the area while they searched. After several minutes the two boats converged on a spot and after a few more minutes they sped back to the Marin side. Despite being maybe 20 minutes from start to finish and not really seeing it up close, it was pretty surreal and left me humbled. On my walk back to the car I thought if I ever published/sold those photos I'd donate all proceeds to a suicide prevention organization. But the slides are still sitting in the box.

BGHOZ wrote:

There is a better way to deal with life .....humble down and pray.... If you do that you might save a life someday.

BUDDY BOY wrote:

There are plenty of ways to kill yourself. You could go down to the train tracks and wait for a train to come by, and just as it does, step in front of it. You could go find a very tall building, go to its upper levels, and jump off. You could go buy a handgun and bullets, put it upside your head and pull the trigger. You could fill up your bathtub with water, take a plugged in electrical device and get in. If you try these, and are still unsuccessful, get back with me. I've got some more ideas....

Someone Cares wrote:

My relative just jumped from the bridge and it is horrible for the family. Totally unbelievable.