Jump
Today I went to see a movie (documentary) about people who jump off the Golden Gate Bridge.
There were interviews with people who'd either known or seen those who jumped. One interview was with a guy who'd jumped and survived. He said the seconds his hands left the railing he felt he'd made a mistake, and he wanted to live. It makes people wonder if everyone who tries to kill themselves doesn't really want to die, and just really wants to be noticed more, or differently.
There was one man whose sister had jumped to her death who was in complete denial. He's a very religious guy, and couldn't handle the thought of his sister killing herself. He said that maybe someone had pushed her, or talked her into it or something. I felt sad for him. Sometimes denial is a coping mechanism. But sometimes it's just a way of avoiding reality.
I've wanted to walk across the bridge since moving here, and finding out it's something people routinely do. Not only are there sidewalks, but you're pretty safe from the cars driving over the bridge too. I wouldn't worry about being hit by a car any more than I would walking along the streets through the city.
What did surprise me is how easy it is to jump off the bridge. Apparently you can just climb over the railing, there's a little ledge, and then you can jump. In 2004, 24 people jumped off the bridge. It seemed like that was an average year. At first I was surprised - why hasn't something been done to make it harder to climb over and jump? But here's the thing. Just like I believe anyone who wants one should be able to have an abortion, I believe almost anyone should be able to kill themselves. If you want to die, then really, unless you're a parent of someone 25 or younger (give or take), I think it's just fine to kill yourself. Maybe whoever is in charge of the bridge railing figures if people want to die badly enough, then okay.
I cannot imagine what it's like for the Coast Guard - to think they're going to rescue some seals, some guys surfing, but to have to put on a hazmat suit and go pull a dead person out of the water one day.
posted by Green at 11/26/2006 08:34:00 PM
9 Comments:
As a person who has tried to kill themselves three times in ernest, but has failed for past lack of knowledge about drugs, I dont know if I agree with your statement about we should be allowed to do it. I was very sick when I tried and really I needed treatment, support, and time. Though I have to say I kind of wish I had been successful, though I wouldnt necessarily do it today.
I feel very conflicted about the whole deal. I mean how is severe, diblitating, chronic mental illeness, which does not respond to treatment, different than any other painful illness?
i 100% disagree with you. i don't think "it's just fine to kill yourself." as the previous comment stated, many of these people are not thinking rationally b/c of an illness and can be saved and cured and so measures of prevention should be taken.
Having suffered from depression myself, and having worked with people this semester who have attempted suicide, I don't think I can agree with you that people who want to commit suicide should be able to. In most cases, these are people who are not capable (at the time) of making rational choices that affect the rest of their life (however brief that might be) and the lives of those around them.
Don't most people commit suicide because they feel hopeless? If we could somehow make a connection with them before they get to those bridges, identify their pain, provide them with effective treatment and caring people around them, that would be my wish for them.
Are you glad you saw this movie? Sounds like a tough one to watch, but one that you're glad you did for the knowledge and empathy gained.
Good food-for-thought topic, Green.
I think the common ground lies in another government agency. You can off yourself, and the gov't will provide approved "Black Pills" (ala MASH) but first you have to get counseling, fill out piles of forms in triplicate (if you weren't suicidal before...)etc. A problem with freelancers is the effect they have on others, family,friends, first responders, people under the bridge or in the oncoming car that you might want to swerve into. I had a coworker who was traumatized when he was driving a firetruck code 3 and a motorcycle crossed over to hit him head on. I went on a suicide by handgun where the other two EMT's knew him, and he was the son of a retired member of our dept. To sum it up, I believe you have the right to end it all, but not to inflict harm on others in the process. Often these people are not thinking about anything but ending their pain.
Suicide is a permanent solution to what is often a temporary problem, but the person isn't able (at the time) to see that or think in those terms.
YOu raise a interesting point - should someone be able legally and/or morally to take his or her own life. There are probably no right answers and also probably not many people without their own opinion - whether or not they're willing to express it.
Anon 4:20 - I can't tell you just how much that phrase "suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem" disgusts me to my core. Who the fuck are you to judge someone else's problems? Who the fuck are you to decide how much something hurts someone, or how long they can handle pain?
People should be able to judge for themselves. For example, my "temporary problems" have been going on for about 30 years now. That doesn't feel very temporary to me. Does it seem temporary to you?
Physically, I think people in pain (terminal illnesses or painful diseases) should have the option available. It seems cruel to tell someone that they must suffer until his body just gives out.
Mentally, I don't know. I think there are people who use suicide as a way out when things get tough. Then it just seems selfish to just give up, leaving others to deal not only with whatever problems the person was running away from, but the grief and guilt. But then there are others whose minds simply will not give them peace. I don't have the experience - either as a sufferer or as a psychologist - to say what goes on in a person's head and what pain can be lessened.
In most cases, I think the person probably has grossly underestimated how many people really care and how far they would go to help.
we had a guy try to kill himself a couple days ago by filling his house up with natural gas and lighting a match. He survived but managed to blow up his house, burn two of his neighbors houses down and damage about 22 others in his neighborhood. Ridiculous, why couldn't he have taken a big bottle full of pills and laid down for a nap?
One of hhis neighbors was an older woman and she was devastated because her home was destroyed...
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