Artcle from CNN

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SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- Golden Gate Bridge officials Thursday moved closer to building a barrier to prevent people from jumping off the famous suspension bridge, where about 1,300 people have killed themselves since the landmark opened in 1937.

Officials voted to develop a plan and explore funding for the suicide barrier after hearing emotional testimony from friends and family of people who jumped off the iconic bridge connecting San Francisco and Marin County.

The decision by a committee of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District still must be approved by the district's board of directors when it meets March 11.

All the nearly 20 people who testified Thursday urged committee members to erect the barrier.

"I don't want one more family member to go through this pain," said Terry Oxford of San Jose, whose 26-year-old daughter, Jennifer, jumped to her death last week. "She chose this bridge because it was accessible."

An average of 20 people a year commit suicide by pitching themselves over the bridge's 41/2-foot-high rail. Four have already done so this year.

"This is the place where the most preventable suicides occur," said Eve Meyer, executive director of San Francisco Suicide Prevention. "These are the most impulsive, least planned and least strategized suicides."

Building a suicide barrier on the bridge has been suggested for decades, but the idea gained momentum earlier this year when bridge officials learned that a filmmaker had filmed 19 people jumping off the bridge. Eric Steel told the bridge district he had intended to "capture the grandeur" of the bridge but ended up making a movie about its history of suicides.

Earlier this week, district staff members said it would take about two years and $2 million to develop a plan for the barrier and another two years to build it. The cost of the barrier depends on the design.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press.

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What REALLY shocked me after reading that article is this pole on CNN:

Should there be suicide barriers on the Golden Gate Bridge?

Yes 45% 11,393 votes
No . 55% 13,923 votes
... Total: 25,316 votes

So, 13,923 people think that this easy access to suicide should continue? Wowsa.

emmy

[vacantangel]

Just blows your mind eh em!!! What's also sick is the guy that was filming people die. What a sicko!!!

We have a bridge in Toronto that was quite often used for suicide jumpers too. They put suicide barriers on the bridge years ago to put a stop to it. Looks like Toronto is one up on SF.

Now who the heck were these people who voted 'no' and what would possess them to do that?

[SweetCrusader]

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So, 13,923 people think that this easy access to suicide should continue? Wowsa.

emmy

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Yikes!

[Mahali]

Who understands some people? Gives me a headache to try.

[SS8282]

My next door city (20min) had a bridge that is second only to Golden Gate Bridge for suicides. They finally set up barrier only last year or so. Definately barriers should be put up, even if it looks 'ugly'.

[vacantangel]

I think the 'ugly' factor was the debate we had here over whether to erect barriers but let's face it, lives are far more important than looking at the scenery below.

This is what is there now. This picture was taken from the Marin side of the bridge from several years ago.

[vacantangel]

I don't know if we ever had or still have anything like that here but they have erected suicide barriers. I should search the net for a pic.

Z - That phone pic is so strange. I wonder how many calls they get? Personally, if I got my lazy, depressed arse all the way down there, I don't think I'd stop to make a phone call. Do they really think people are rational at that point???

em

[vacantangel]

I found this but I don't think it really shows it very clearly.

Toronto Bridge Suicide Magnet

[vacantangel]

I wouldn't call either. All the times I've been suicidal, not once did I phone any suicide line, crisis line, 911 or go to the ER.

[vacantangel]

I don't think it says anything in that particular article that I provided the link for but in other webpages I read, it said there have been no suicides at that bridge since the suicide barriers have been erected. They also have a crisis phone on that bridge but ironically, it's not a 1-800 number. You need to pay a quarter. Like anybody is going to bring a quarter to use the phone. Sheesh!!!

I also read that even though there have been no more suicides at this most popular bridge in Toronto, they have now moved to a bigger bridge that crosses the same valley.

So, their point being, if there is a will there is a way.

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That phone pic is so strange. I wonder how many calls they get?

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post"> Unfortunately I can't find the other picture I have which is the white sign on the gate (slightly visible in photo) that closes off the walkway(s) on either side of the bridge.

I was severely depressed on a return trip home from somewhere in Northern CA and we took a rest stop at the bridge to get fresh air, stretch our legs and see the city skyline on the bay. I remember thinking this was so surreal that they not only had a crisis phone but the sign too.........sorry I can't find that particular pic.

[mortimer]

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Just blows your mind eh em!!! What's also sick is the guy that was filming people die. What a sicko!!!

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Building a suicide barrier on the bridge has been suggested for decades, but the idea gained momentum earlier this year when bridge officials learned that a filmmaker had filmed 19 people jumping off the bridge. Eric Steel told the bridge district he had intended to "capture the grandeur" of the bridge but ended up making a movie about its history of suicides.

Just a right time right place thing I think he caught it. At least it's being brought to public attention.

What kind of barrier would keep it from being a jump site? A fence?

So the article is recent, huh? I hope it does get put up.

[SpazKatt]

Huh. I really think the barrier is the best deterrent

[Shaymus]

Wow im beginning to think im so out of sync with my views that im almost worried. How many people would want to go kill themselves and then remember they read the bridge now has a barrier and just go home? I know when im feeling that down that one failed plan will not stop me. Heck id just drive to the next nearest bridge that was high enough. It would probably piss me off the barrier was there. Id have to look for ways to defeat it lol.

i think it would be a waste of money.....
the suicidal person wanting to jump off the bridge will just find another way to do it.....i want to say so much more, but i know it would be triggering......
i could name hundreds of ways but i wont....
what a waste of money to put a barrier on this one bridge!!! does not solve any problem of suicide...that money should go to suicide prevention, access to mental health crisis intervention, and stuff like that.

[vacantangel]

Shaymus. That's exactly what happened here. They put barriers on the bridge that was always used. That did stop any more jumpers from that bridge, so after that, they just moved to a different bridge over the same valley and highway that is actually higher. So, the suicides haven't subsided, they just changed bridges. If somebody wants to do it bad enough, they'll find a way. More emphasis needs to be put on stopping people from getting to that point of hopelessness and despair instead.

[h0kie]

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i think it would be a waste of money.....

does not solve any problem of suicide...that money should go to suicide prevention, access to mental health crisis intervention, and stuff like that.

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Honestly ccl...I never thought of it that way. What a good point!

I forget who made the point (AG?...zh?....emmy?) of just driving down the road to the next bridge.

We need to help "fix" the cause, not the effect...so to speak.

[gracetoo71]

putting up a barrier would be like putting a band-aid on a severed limb. it's not going to help. prevention is the key. and educating people would help. people who have had it well off (have never thought of ending their privilaged life) believe those who want to kill themselves are crazy, insane, selfish, etc. they think the thoughts are controlable and can be snapped out of. maybe if there was more understanding there would be better help out there. because like the health care system as a whole, the mental health care in this country is a joke, and that is if you have insurance and the money for all the copays. it angers me how the ones who don't have the perfect life in this country are treated. wow, sorry, just triggered a sour spot, and i got carried away.

a barrier may save one or two people a year who really don't want to commit suicide. the ones that think about it for the first time, see an easy way, know it can be done, and jump. but for those that think about it often, they will find another way. that is alot of money that can be put to better use helping those that need help
sorry i got carried away
take care all,
grace

[MacD]

ccl you really got it on this one.....and you're so right....once the decision is made, and once that point is reached, it wil be accomplished...the means is incidental..i so agree that those at risk need more support to begin with so that they don't reach that point....thanks so much for your insite. grace

[neri]

i would have voted no if i lived there...

[mortimer]

At least they're doing something. It's like saying "Lets not go into therapy because there's a success rate, and I might be one of the people that fails and doesn't get better." Or, "Why bother wich chemotherapy, I'll just waste my money when I might not get better anyway."

It's helping with the spur of the moment ones at least. Maybe a few people will think better of it, go home or the ER. Why is that such a bad thing? There's stupider things they spend tax money on you know.

[Isolated_Guy]

Putting up the barrier is a good example of what's called a "feel good solution" and doesn't address the serious problem. It's hype over substance. While they're at it, they might as well pass laws against having access to every possible item one could use to take their own lives. I honestly think those who are in charge and running the "show" do not want to find solutions to the problems of society. The more tension and distraction among the the population there is, the better off they are to be able to go on with their own personal agendas. Just stop and think why they spend millions and millions attacking and taking over country which was never a threat to ours. It's hardly any accident they spend energy and money everywhere but where it's needed the most.

[(JD)]

IT has to be a matter of liability... their insurance will be reduced if they take this step. can't blame 'em for that.

yeah guy... like Cristo spending another 2 million to put up saffron-colored cloth in central park??? some ppl need a life. (I should talk?)