SUICIDE
BARRIER ON GOLDEN
GATE BRIDGE?
The Golden
Gate Bridge is recognized around the world as a graceful,
elegant entryway, welcoming the world to the extraordinary
bays of Marin and San Francisco. How ironic that it is also
the worlds leading site for self-destruction. As almost anyone
living in the Bay Area knows, people kill themselves in large
numbers by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Though the
official tally is between 1,100 and 1,200, this includes only
those whose bodies have been recovered. The real number of
people who jump from the bridge far exceeds this “official”
total.
Our mission
at SP&CC is to prevent suicides. How can we not be alarmed
at the fact that right in our backyard is a public structure
that provides such ready access for ending one’s life? How
can we not strongly advocate for finding an effective solution
to preventing such tragedy? How can we not be moved to action?
People who are experiencing emotional pain sometimes act
impulsively in a crisis. Easy access to the bridge, lack
of an effective deterrent, and the Bridge’s public reputation
as a place to die has resulted in the Golden Gate Bridge
becoming a magnet for suicides.
When some 500
people who were thwarted in their attempts to jump from
were asked if they would attempt to end their lives through
another method, many said they would not. Findings support
that suicidal behavior is generally crisis-ori-ended and
acute in nature, and suggest that a physical barrier on
the bridge would, in fact, prevent the vast majority of
those deterred from moving on to other means of suicide.
(Dr. Richard Seiden, UC Berkeley, Suicide and Life Threatening
Behavior,” Vol. 8 (4), Winter 1978.)
There are four
main criteria that a suicide barrier must meet. First, it
must not impair the beauty and scenic views from the bridge;
second, it must meet engineering standards and not damage
the structural integrity of the bridge; third, it must be
affordable; and finally, it must effectively prevent suicides.
The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District
Board of Directors is responsible for policy and fiscal
issues related to the Bridge. After decades of inaction,
the board supported the implementation of a suicide patrol
suicide last April.
A one-year analysis
of this action reveals that the patrol observed 499 people
whose behavior was suspicious.” Of these individuals, 49
with suicidal tendencies were taken to the hospital for
observation and 19 suicides occurred. These facts endorse
the belief that the bridge attracts people who may be prone
to suicide and that the patrol is not an effective deterrent.
At a recent
meeting of the Bridge Board, members voted to contract with
a Danville fencing company to design and test a prototype
of a suicide deterrent system barrier. This development
reflects a significant commitment on the part of the board
to seriously examine a more effective alternative to prevent
suicide. As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Golden
Gate Bridge, it is out hope that the Bridge will become
a beacon of light and life, and not a Mecca for death. If
you believe that it’s time for action now please join our
coalition to prevent suicide on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Call Margaret
Hallett,
SUICIDES PREVENTION & COMMUNITY COUNSELING
(SP& CC) Director at 499-1193
|
