Work Begins on Golden Gate Bridge Suicide Barrier (Finally)

Back in 2008 — a decade ago — we noted that the good folks who oversee the Golden Gate Bridge finally approved a suicide barrier for this iconic landmark. Every year, 30 to 50 people jump from the bridge. With a 98 percent fatality rate, the chances of survival are not good. Six years later in 2014, we noted that a specific barrier type was approved for the Golden Gate Bridge — a wire-mesh netting that would be mostly out-of-sight tucked underneath the bridge. It was expected that its construction would be completed by 2018. Here it is 2018, and still no suicide barrier has been erected at the Golden Gate Bridge. What’s going on? Suicide barriers — whether they be a net like this one, or a higher fence — are very effective in reducing people contemplating or attempting to jump to their death (and in some cases, completely effective). Because of its iconic, beautiful nature, the Golden Gate Bridge has long attracted hundreds of suicidal people to it. Each year, somewhere between 150 and 300 people attempt to jump from the bridge. Thankfully, most are saved by trained crisis workers. But dozens more are still sadly successful in jumping off of the bridge to their death. In 2016, for instance, there 184 successful interventions and only 39 confirmed suicide deaths. In 2017, there were 245 successful interventions, and only 33 confirmed suicide deaths, according to the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District. Since the suicide b...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Depression General Mental Health and Wellness Policy and Advocacy Suicide Golden Gate Bridge golden gate suicide Preventing Suicide suicide barrier Source Type: blogs