The Final Leap Read Free Page B

comes to suicide leaves one feeling numb and of the opinion that this problem can’t continue, it has to end.
    That’s the reason for this book. It’s intended to educate readers about Golden Gate Bridge suicides with the hope that more people will realize that this deplorable situation must be remedied at once, without further delay. And it can be. A taller railing or a well-designed net underneath will solve the problem immediately and effectively. Of course, there are people who object to any changes because the bridge is such an icon. As a centerpiece, conduit, and symbol it reigns supreme, not only for the city of San Francisco but for California and the West. Yet doing nothing only adds to the death toll.
    In the following chapters I provide a wide-ranging examination of the most popular suicide site on earth. I explore the bridge’s celebrated history; it’s unfortunate appeal to people who want to die; the dark stories of the suicides themselves; how the few survivors of Golden Gate Bridge jumps view their near-deaths; the roles of the police, Coast Guard, coroner, Bridge District, and mental health community; and the simple change that would without a doubt prevent these tragedies in the future.
    The story of Golden Gate Bridge suicides started mere weeks after the bridge opened in May 1937 when a World War I veteran became the first official casualty, and it has continued ever since. One reason why it continues is because people don’t want to believe or, perhaps, prefer to ignore that the extraordinary, spellbinding, one-of-a-kind bridge is blemished. That might damage San Francisco’s thriving tourism industry, which supports thousands of businesses as well as enhances government coffers. It also would give pause to artists, photographers, moviemakers, and poets who craft paeans to the bridge. Most importantly, it would mean confronting a problem that’s unpleasant to consider, that some people are so distressed they want to end their lives.
    Another reason why Golden Gate Bridge jumps continue is because the subject of suicide remains taboo. Society as a whole and people individually don’t want to talk about it. Some individuals believe that if you talk about suicide, you plant the thought in someone’s mind when it wasn’t there before. Curiously, this same fear isn’t raised in regards to public awareness campaigns to reduce drunk driving, drug use, domestic violence, cigarette smoking, or unprotected sex. In those instances, acknowledging and talking about the problem are considered important first steps in addressing it, leading to a clearer understanding of the issues while simultaneously dispelling misperceptions. Suicide though, is different. It is still concealed and largely unknown, on a par only with incest, perhaps, in terms of public avoidance. Because of the shame and stigma associated with suicide, many people want to keep it that way, including people who have been directly impacted, who have lost a loved one to suicide.
    In chapter 2 I examine the much-touted history of the Golden Gate Bridge. Not only was it the longest single suspension span in the world at the time it was built, but it was the first bridge to be erected at the mouth of a major harbor. This is important because in addition to all the engineering challenges, such as high winds, deep water, strong currents, and close proximity to the San Andreas fault, which nearly leveled the city of San Francisco in the 1906 earthquake, the bridge had to be tall enough to accommodate large ships passing underneath.
    The height of the Golden Gate Bridge is a key reason why it attracts suicidal people. The roadbed is 220 feet above the water, far higher than most other bridges. Jumping off it, a person is virtually certain to die—especially if he or she lands any way other than feet first. An even bigger reason for the bridge’s fatal attraction, however, is the railing. It’s only four