Federal Funding for Suicide Deterrent Barriers
- by: Surviving Families and Friends of Suicide Victims
- recipient: Congressional Transportation Committees
I am one of many surviving family members who have lost a loved one to suicide from the Golden Gate Bridge. I represent thousands of families and friends who have been devastated by suicide at this iconic site. But we are not alone! Thousands more die every year from suicide by jumping from heights off of bridges across America!
The suicide rate at this National Landmark and Interntional Icon has continued unabated for almost 75 years and the loss of thousands of lives. It continues at a rate of 30 more EVERY YEAR!
But this bridge is not the only bridge with a suicide problem! Many bridges across America serve as beacons for those who suffer from thoughts of taking their own lives, and serve as the site for last acts of desperation.
Now is the time and Congress is the place where this can all change!
Congress is re-authorizing the National Transportation Bill this year. We need them to add an amendment that would allow local and state districts to apply for federal funding for physical suicide prevention structures, whether a rail, fence or netting.
We need to let them know this is a matter of life and death !
We need you to sign this petition and then call and write your congressional representatives and senators and let them know you want this to happen!
The Honorable Raymond LaHood , Secretary , U.S. Department of Transportation
The Honorable Raymond LaHood,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation
Chairman Rockefeller IV and Ranking Member Hutchison,
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Chairman Lautenberg and Ranking Member Thune,
Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine
Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
Chairman Mica and Ranking Member Rahall II,
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Chairman Duncan, Jr., and Ranking Member DeFazio,
House Subcommittee on Highway and Transit
We, the undersigned, kindly and urgently request your action on the upcoming reauthorization of the Transportation Bill. We request that your committees include funding for physical suicide prevention structures on bridges across the nation to protect those individuals with mental disabilities.
I am referring to individuals with mental disabilities that compromise their cognitive functions, their ability to reason and therefore, their inability to appreciate the dangers that might come from their actions.
To understand the scope of this problem you need to know that over 80% of people who died by suicide between 1991 and 2007 by jumping from our national landmark and international icon, the Golden Gate Bridge, were mentally incapacitated by a disease or disorder of the brain. They were unable to completely understand the finality of their actions, and came to a location known for its easy access to a highly lethal means of suicide (over 98% of those who jump will die).
Many of our bridges across the nation 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. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that many of these deaths are preventable by restricting the access to highly lethal means, such as physical barriers on structures to prevent jumps.
“Means Restriction”, removing an easily accessible and highly lethal method of suicide, is recognized internationally as an effective method of suicide prevention. It includes preventing people from jumping to their death from a high building or bridge.
Means Restriction is endorsed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Science’s National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.
The National Bridge Inventory from the Federal Highway Administration lists the number of deficient bridges across the nation, last updated in December 2010. These are bridges that are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Over 146, 000 bridges are considered deficient, needing replacement or major reconstruction, accounting for nearly 25% of all bridges across the nation.
Many of these bridges already have shared-use walkways for pedestrians and bicycles. When bridges are repaired or replaced, many additional sites will likely have Public Right-Of-Ways put into place. It is known that modifications are easiest, and least costly, to achieve with new construction or extensive modifications.
It is with this in mind that we ask you to consider an addendum to the funding suicide deterrent systems on bridges, all bridges with public right of ways, in the upcoming reauthorization of the Transportation bill. At a time when the national infrastructure needs updating, preventative measures could easily be designed into new bridge structures.
Please, use this opportunity to stop the suicides at this National Landmark and International Icon and join the list of other nations who have made life a priority and have already stopped suicides at their national icons and bridges such as the Eiffel Tower, Grafton Bridge, Clifton Bridge, and Mt. Mihara.
We, the undersigned, respectfully request and implore you to use the opportunity at hand, the reauthorization of the Transportation Bill, to provide measures of safety through restricting access to lethal means for those who need it desperately, when they are in crisis and are unable to comprehend to danger of their actions..
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