Marin coroner releases new study on Golden Gate Bridge suicides

A just released study from the Marin County coroner's office on Golden Gate bridge suicides, shows that that the vast majority of them are witnessed by passersby.

According to the study, coroner Ken Holmes said 70 percent of all suicides are witnessed by "tourists, commuters, adults, children and people working on the bridge."

The report also determined that 90 percent of those who committed suicide, were from Northern California with the vast majority from surrounding bay counties.

Holmes also admonished the Golden Gate Bridge District saying they "see little urgency in resolving this ongoing problem."

District spokeswoman Mary Currie was quoted earlier today as saying they are dealing with the problem, and that they "are moving quickly as possible towards a suicide barrier."

A vote to install a net-style barrier was finally approved after a lot of contentious debate and public comment.

Referring to the vote last year by the district to enact the barrier (shown at left), Holmes said he "didn't know how diligently they're moving."

The study was produced in conjunction with the Bridge Rail Foundation, an anti-suicide group who have long advocated for more urgency and attention to the suicide problem.  Earlier this year, MoreMarin covered their "Whose Shoes" exhibit which displayed shoes from actual suicide victims. 

Here is a link to an overview and another to the actual study.

Comments

[Shattaka Brown]

There are TWO things to consider with Bridge Suicides.

1).. The depressed person will simply go somewhere else to jump if he/she can't jump off the bridge due to a barrier.

2).. We all have to be really wary of the thousands of "non profits" out there who are being funded by public money & yet make demands upon the public for us to do things THEIR way. They take our money & then make demands upon us.

[MoreMarin]

Shattaka--
Thanks for your comment.

Although MoreMarin hasn't taken a position one way or the other on the barrier, we've seen a couple of studies that have shown that given some time and 'missed opportunity' most people who intend to commit suicide, decide against it later.

The studies also determined that the Gate Bridge itself, is a strong attractant to those who wish to kill themselves.

With respect to #2, we agree that non-profits should be answerable to the public to which they serve.

[Boondockmom]

Shattaka,

going somewhere else is an urban legend. Go tot he office of Suicide Prevention under California's Mental health Division. Look for their Executive Summary. 8 pages but informative and pratical. It is titled "Every californian is part of the solution".

Also recent studies show that certain types of mental disorders direct the method of suicide. Those who jump from bridges are 2-6 times more likely to be schizophrenic AND over 14 years younger than those choosing other types of methods.

Information and real facts are pertinent in matters such as this.