Suicide Barrier Funding Eligiblity
- by: Surviving Families of Suicide Victims
- recipient: House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
I am one of many surviving family members who have lost a loved one to suicide from the Golden Gate Bridge. There is no official number and the educated guesses of deaths range from 1,300 to over 2,000 with a life lost every 10-14 days!
The suicide rates at our national bridges are a great tragedy. Many of our bridges, some of which are national landmarks, also serve as a beacon for those who suffer from thoughts of taking their own lives, and all too often serve as the stage for last acts of desperation.
An additional tragedy is that many of these deaths are preventable if only there were proper physical barriers on these structures to serve as suicide deterrents. On bridges across the country and around the world, studies have shown that the addition of a suicide barrier on a bridge can dramatically cut down on the number of deaths at those sites, and in some cases, eliminate suicides completely.
While some may argue that deterring a suicide on a bridge will not stop the act altogether, the studies prove differently. Impulsivity is one of the factors associated with suicidal behavior and reducing the opportunity can reduce the overall suicide rates. Indeed, any form of obstruction at a high-risk site, like a bridge, not only gives the individual time to reconsider but, delaying the suicidal act may also increase the chances of intervention.
It is with this in mind that we have asked local representatives in Congress to support an addendum for the eligibility of funding suicide deterrent systems on bridges in the upcoming highway reauthorization bill.
This is not request for monies or earmarks.
Simply an addition to the language of the bill.
By allowing suicide barriers to be included under Title 23, Chapter 1, Section 101(a)(35), Transportation Enhancement Activity, individual state, regional, and local transportation agencies would be able to use federal highway dollars for these worthy projects.
Rep. Lynn Woolsey tells us the deadline for these letters is May 13, 2009.
Please sign this petition and then ask your local congressperson to support this addendum and help us start saving lives!
THANK YOU !
Dear Chairman Oberstar, Ranking Member Mica, Chairman DeFazio, and Ranking Member Duncan:
The suicide rates at our national bridges are a great tragedy. Many of our bridges, some of which are national landmarks, also serve as a beacon for those who suffer from thoughts of taking their own lives, and all too often serve as the stage for last acts of desperation.
An additional tragedy is that many of these deaths are preventable if only there were proper physical barriers on these structures to serve as suicide deterrents. On bridges across the country and around the world, studies have shown that the addition of a suicide barrier on a bridge can dramatically cut down on the number of deaths at those sites, and in some cases, eliminate suicides completely.
While some may argue that deterring a suicide on a bridge will not stop the act altogether, the studies prove differently. Impulsivity is one of the factors associated with suicidal behavior and reducing the opportunity can reduce the overall suicide rates. Indeed, any form of obstruction at a high-risk site, like a bridge, not only gives the individual time to reconsider but, delaying the suicidal act may also increase the chances of intervention.
It is with this in mind that we ask you to consider an addendum to the eligibility of funding suicide deterrent systems on bridges in the upcoming highway reauthorization bill.
By allowing suicide barriers to be included under Title 23, Chapter 1, Section 101(a)(35), Transportation Enhancement Activity, individual state, regional, and local transportation agencies would be able to use federal highway dollars for these worthy projects.
We ask that you please consider this request as you continue your work on this important bill. If you have any questions, please contact Jamie Girard (X55161) in the office of Rep. Woolsey.
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