Im sorry to hear of your loss I think this message needs to be made more clear and put in ads, etc. Take a trip somewhere I mean what do you have to lose, on your journey to wherever you may see life worth living make yourself do something. I agree with you completely, Anonymous. She attempted suicide three times and was in mental hospitals, etc. Keep pushing on. The main principle to this is very simple Taking energy and harnessing it for the good and nothing can go wrong.. I feel if I constantly feel like this over the years why dont I just die now? Anyone who has seen her since is also asked to contact San Francisco police at 415-575-4444 or the family's private investigator at 925-705-8328. Say someone wants to die by suicideso badly that they go to the Golden Gate Bridge to jump off. A view of the Golden Gate Bridge with San Francisco behind it in January 1947. About his dads suicide, your article helping me a lot to help. Generally, research into method substitution has found that blocking access to a suicide method results in fewer suicides overall, even when taking into consideration those suicides by people who found other ways to die. The Golden Gate Bridge, which first opened in May 1937, was the most popular suicide site in the world during the documentary's filming, with approximately 1,200 deaths by 2003. I love to see that in the Comments section; I find it beautiful when people can connect in this way and, even more, when someone can tell another person what they havent believed for themselves. If you havent already joined a support group for other suicide loss survivors, that might help you; such groups are available in person and online. And I got very drunk every time I drank after that, which was quite often. She replied, She probably figured she could fix you. This was the beginning of my recognition of the fact that I wasnt the horrible person I made myself out to be, in fact, my story is very much like a lot of alcoholics Ive met. While in Australia she started blogging about beginning to experience bouts of depression on top of her anxiety. Dont believe anyone who tells you differently. They're asking anyone "who may have been walking, biking, running, who commute over the bridge particularly Wednesday mornings at that time" to share information. I died that day too. It amazes me that the vast majority of suicides are by men, and virtually all of the articles about it are by women. West was born in Walnut Creek and lived briefly in Castro Valley before her family moved to Pleasanton. West returned to the Bay Area for college at UC Berkeley after her family moved from Pleasanton to North Carolina several years ago. Sergeant Kevin Briggs (also known as the Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge [1] [2]) is a California Highway Patrol officer noted for his work in suicide intervention, having dissuaded more than two hundred people from jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco Bay. [This comment was edited, per the Comments Policy. PART OF AUDACY NEWS. I once attributed that simply to having realized I wanted to live and (narrowly) surving my attempt. Previously, police said she had not been seen or heard from since before dawn, on Sept. 29. When I will be talking to him, also sure helps me to see I am suicide attempt survivor. I am very sorry for your loss. Each. After the war, people were looking for entertainment in 1940's San Francisco, but TVs were not yet common in homes, public hangings were history and the 49ers hadnt joined the NFL yet. Indie Pop Star Michelle Lambert Kicks Off the Bankhead Courtyard Concert Series! 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I wanted to talk with others in the same situation but I could understand how that may not be in the best interest of either party. I hope you can find peace within. Now I wonder whether I also pressed reset on my brain. "No detail is too small," said her mother, Kimberly West. I attempted when I was a teenager. I tried by drinking mosquito poison. As I entered Oklahoa, something I like to think it was my Higher Powerinspired me to call my brother in Illinois and I ended up going in and out of treatment centers until I finally realized that Im an alcoholic and that there was hope for me. My hope for others feeling like that is they tell someone who can help them. I understand completely. It is true that suicide sometimes defies even the best efforts to thwart it. They then examine the demographic characteristics of those who commit suicide from the bridge as well as the fatal attraction of the Golden Gate Bridge. They are doing a med wash and released me with no meds, and actually said if I come back, I will be admitted long term. What Dr. Seiden found is a remarkable testament to the fact that a suicidal crisis is often very often temporary. Have you read Whats In the Way Is the Way by Mary OMalley? The four-second fall from the Golden Gate Bridge sends a person plunging 245 feet (75 m) at 75 miles per hour (121 km/h) to . She has blonde hair and blue eyes, and was last seen wearing a sweatshirt, dark-colored shorts and blue Vans sneakers. Being a freshman and isolated on campus due to the COVID pandemic was hard for West, her family said. For more information, click here. In February 2009, following the murder of a four-year-old girl who was thrown off the bridge by her father, the first stage of a temporary suicide barrier was erected on Westgate Bridge, constructed of concrete crash barriers topped with a welded mesh fence. Dear Anthony, [feb.6.2019 @9.26am]. She was also seen wearing black shorts at times and may have been wearing glasses, said her father, Jay West. The decision collapsed Rhodes sister's claim that her brother was murdered as cameraman Guzman should have been in a boat to pull her brother out of the water. and our Im sorry youre feeling so bad that your suicide seems, to you, to be inevitable. Yet it gives me great hope that the vast majority of suicide attempt survivors remain just that survivors. 2023 Audacy, Inc. All rights reserved. Shortly after 1 p.m. on March 8, San Francisco officials pulled the fully clothed body of a 56-year-old white man from the waves off secluded Marshall's Beach, just south of the Golden Gate Bridge. Thank you for reaching out to Joan and offering your support. Suicide prevention can save lives. Its death toll has since been surpassed only by the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge in China.. West's parents are asking anyone who may have been commuting or exercising on the bridge to come forward with anything they may have seen. At this point, the instinct is what keeps me living. It gives me a good opportunity to dispel concerns that others may have, too. Dealing with the guilt is the hardest thing I have ever dealt with. She is 5 10 tall and weighs 130 pounds. When I woke up a day later, my depression had greatly improved. Some die instantly from internal injuries, while others . Anyone with information is asked to call 415-575-4444. Car plunges off California elevated highway, 3 people killed. The bridge is 225 feet high, and after a four-second fall, jumpers hit the water at a speed of 75mph, with a force equivalent to a lorry crashing into a wall. I am hopeful that similar results will be found after the suicide barrier at the Golden Gate bridge is in place. The night before she disappeared (Sept. 29) she and her father Jay West had a lengthy phone conversation according to her family. Her parents thanked others for the love and support, and asked people to continue spreading the word by sharing photos and memories of their daughter on social media. SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) The family of a UC Berkeley freshman who disappeared last September has offered a $10,000 reward for information in connection with the case. : The Fate of Suicide Attempt Survivors, A Follow-up Study of Suicide Attempters from. Turns out, it was a recording of Sydney singing. For those who are thinking about suicide, I know what happens after youre gone isnt part of the thought process, but believe me, you might end your pain, but the trajectory of pain caused to others is also insurmountable. Such an assumption would be wrong. Her Disappearance: Sydney West was a 19-year-old freshman at U.C. "We have a lot of people that are asking us for information.". There are so many types of antidepressants these days (around 40), plus mood stabilizers, plus antipsychotic medications that can also be used to treat depression. East Bay Wine & Whimsy (Metaphysical Market), Before & After Photos Show CA's Snowpack, Reservoirs After Storms, Best Bay Area Sandwiches + Stranded Hiker Rescued: Saturday Smiles, Sprawling Estates, Suburban Dreams: 11 Featured Bay Area Homes, Berkeley Police Warn Of Vehicle Theft Rise, The Poop On Free-Range Cats And Your Lawn And Garden [Block Talk]. I know that this surprises many people. Police do not necessarily believe there was foul play involved, according to an interview Rueca had with KRON4. Missing person: The San Francisco Police Department is asking the public to report any information regarding 19-year-old Sydney West who was last seen on Sept. 30, 2020, at SF's Crissy Field. Im not sure that preventing suicide is such a noble act. Its agonizing to lose someone you love to suicide, and you describe that agony very powerfully. Camera footage has been reviewed and interviews have been conducted among West's friends and acquaintances, but there are no leads. Obviously, I failed. She took a ride-share service. Sydneyhas not used her phone, social media or bank accounts since she disappeared. Your pain matters. West took a rideshare service to the Golden Gate Bridge; the driver cooperated with San Francisco police and is not believed to be a suspect. They would split the profits from the film 50/50. Holidays and milestones come and go while we continue to feelSydney's absence continuously. Here I thought I just occasionally drank too much. Life.church has some really good online sermons I highly suggest that. But as long as your solution is to kill yourself , you wont see them even if theyre right in front of you. "Jump." That's the word Kevin Hines heard in his head on September 25, 2000, as he stood on the Golden Gate Bridge. Good luck to you, Joan. We cannot overlook that 10% of people who survive a suicide attempt do go on to die by suicide. But the other day I told him that and now hes moving in with me again so my life is going good again! My family lied to me about basically everything relevant and valuable in life. And the children are adults now. This site continues to distract me from my suicidal thoughts. Maybe some of the posts on this site could be helpful to him? Between 1937 and 2012, an estimated 1,400 bodies were recovered of people who had jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge, located in the San Francisco Bay Area in the United States. Thank you for contributing to the discussion. He had a gun in the house that he never used, was trying to sell, I didnt even think of it during this time. One desperate and hurt person to another. . Anyone in the Bay Area with any information regarding her disappearancecan contact Sgt. Someone mustve seen something nothing is being ruled out. Her family has stated that she enjoyed the area around the Golden Gate Bridge, and it was not unlike her to take pictures and go for a walk or run. Any information could help so if you know anyone that was in that area around that time, please use contact information provided below. The attempt was no cry for help. I woke up on my own after my first attempt. There is a strength within you. At the time, a made for TV movie, named Silence of the Heart came out. Despite having to raise two young children alone with barely a cent to her name, Lorraine refused many offers from news agencies to sell the film of her husbands demise. "Folks that have seen anything that resembles Sydney, we really want to collect information.". I was determined and had written a detailed letter with instructions for the police and family. Bonnie. She tried to take her life when I was 12. I just read your post. Sign promoting a 24/7 crisis text line on the Golden Gate Bridge. His father had died by suicide and even though I knew all of this, I couldnt see the forest through the trees. West had just gone off to college to her dream school, University of California Berkeley. It seems to be an if all else fails, Ill just kill myself attempt to cope that gives me short-term comfort but itlike alcoholonly provides temporary relief and Im still left with my limited ability to cope with life. Thanks for sharing your story here. While living in San Francisco West enjoyed singing and playing the piano for open mic nights around the city. My brother did the same in 2002. ive suffered depression for Years, 2 suicide attempts in 2008. The Golden Gate Bridge is the number one suicide site in the world. SFGATE's Editor-at-Large Andrew Chamings is a British writer in San Francisco. I dont understand why things are suddenly going so well for me though.. Youd think karma would hit me and make my life way worse but I guess the universe wants me alive for some reason? I have battled the thoughts of suicide for many years but after I had children those thoughts died. Suicide isnt an option, keep telling yourself that. They have a good, nonjudgmental, and supportive discussions at ChronicSuicideSupport.com/forum/. At the time of her disappearance Sydney was 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs around 130 pounds with light brown hair and blue eyes. I saw him hit the water like a bullet, said his wife. West's parents are asking anyone who may have been. Clad in two suits, weighted boots, football padding, another rubber suit and a football helmet that onlookers described as giving him a man-from-Mars look, Rhodes also had three parachutes on his back to ease his fall. San Francisco police and the Orange County Sheriffs Office in North Carolina did not immediately respond to a request for comment from SFGATE. For more information, please see our Her father grew worried when she didnt call the next day the day she was last spotted in San Francisco. Suicide needs to be addressed from many angles, of which means restriction is only one. We certainly do need to continue educating people about suicide prevention, including the reality that most people who survive a suicide attempt choose life afterwards. It's not hard to kill yourself at the Golden Gate bridge. Seidens study shows that those who encounter a personal, human intervention during the suicide attempt are less likely to end up dying of suicide (though he admits that another big percentage continue self-destructive behaviorse.g., excessive drinkingthat lead to an early natural death), but it says nothing about the efficacy of physical barriers. [This comment was edited to abide by the Comments Policy. Learn how your comment data is processed. Millions of eyes are going to locate her better than 20 sets, Jay West said. Theres people who love you and want you to keep pushing even if your soul reason is living to not put them through that heartache. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Ive worked in Mental health, Ive lost a family member through suicide. Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW, is the author of the books Helping the Suicidal Person: Tips and Techniques for Professionals and Loving Someone with Suicidal Thoughts: What Family, Friends, and Partners Can Say and Do. Especially when its an opinion so your both right. A little over four years ago I couldnt see an end to the emotional pain and despair I felt and became obsessed with thoughts of killing myself: another failed marriage, another lost job, another lost home, my girlfriend left me and just as we seemed to be getting back together died of a stroke. I address the myth of inevitable suicide in this post. But 10 years later, Im there again. Be blunt and honest dont sugar coat how you feel. At least twelve hundred people have been seen jumping or have been found in the water since the bridge opened, in 1937, including Roy Raymond, the founder of Victoria's Secret, in 1993, and. Even for people who passionately wish and perhaps even need (for health reasons) to lose weight, they do not always prevail. In 2000, he actually did jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. Someone may have seen something -- any piece of information could help lead us to Sydney," parents Kimberly and Jay West said in a joint statement. I interviewed her parents.https://t.co/tiBGM53NZz pic.twitter.com/lvHh2cCrZg. A vigil was held last week for West in Pleasanton. Golden Gate Bridge, suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate in California to link San Francisco with Marin county to the north. I put up a front so my kids wont end up the same way. Rhodes had been seeking fame all his life, and successfully became one of Hollywoods first stuntmen, appearing in movies such as "Under Arizona Skies" and "Duel in the Sun," in which he performed a cliff jump. This Walking Pad treadmill made getting 10,000 steps a How to get tickets for Depeche Mode's new tour dates. Sydney Kaitlyn West, 19, was last seen near the Golden Gate Bridge around 6:45 a.m. on September 30, 2020. And they did for the Hollywood stuntmans attempt to sail off the Golden Gate Bridge on Feb. 6, 1948. My failure as a person was responsible for my extreme step. There are many people with children whose pain or distorted thinking overrides all else, in spite of their best wishes. You can learn more about me here. Challenges, extreme challenges. Had she jumped somebody definitely would have noticed, and it would've been caught on CCTV (the cameras are placed on light poles so fog does not block). Thanks for sharing, Anne. According to San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) her family reported her missing two days after she was last seen on Oct 2, 2020. I pray tonight. This case has always stuck with me because I am in my 20s and suffer from anxiety and depression. YEAH? He had lost two fingers in a knife fight on the set of the movie "Scarface." Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Have had lots of therapy after that. Enter your email address to receive notifications by email of new posts. The West family has also upped its reward for her return to $25,000. He already had refused to get help or to stop drinking. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. similar to cancer ads, etc. Her disappearance was every parents worst nightmare. Im about to be 22, medicated trying to live normal with constant suicidal thoughts. As a teenager, I related so closely and had so many mixed emotions in comparing the results of my vs the characters attempts. I am resigned to staying alive until I die in some other way. It may feel 100% true to him. Anyone interested in following the investigation may do so on Facebook or Instagram, and tag posts with #FindSydneyWest. What, Im supposed to carry on with the HOPE that things MIGHT get better. Email: joshua.bote@sfgate.com and Signal: 707-742-3756, Six months after student's disappearance in San Francisco, family continues search, Horoscope for Saturday, 3/04/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Snowboarder dies at Tahoe ski resort following historic blizzard, West I-80 closed near Tahoe due to snow and 'multiple spinouts', Wife of Jeffrey Vandergrift issues somber update, Even Salesforces tower HQ isnt safe from office cuts, Inside Harry and Meghans favorite In-N-Out, Horoscope for Friday, 3/03/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Massive Lake Tahoe waterfront compound slashes price by $20M, This beloved East Bay hybrid cafe and bike shop is closing, Ja Morant says he'll get help after video shows apparent gun. After he was rescued, he continued to live, and lives still, serving as a suicide prevention advocate at the national level. The Golden Gate net project is like putting a bandaid on an ulcer. God will come through for you but you have to make an attempt. In fact, Dusty told his friend to shoot from the bridge as it would be more dramatic, and besides, he would easily be able to swim to shore to a congratulatory, awestruck crowd of beach goers. Lately, the suicidal thoughts have permeated my brain. Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). I used to believe my problems are so intractable that the only way out of my pain was suicide. Whether ones anchor to life is children or some other passion, it is a gift to have a reason for living that outweighs suicidal thoughts. How could I have been so stupid? and the evidence around them is not good. SFGATE news editor Amy Graff contributed to this report. She is an amazing musician. Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Golden Gate lacks a suicide barrier . If you really love someone, please open up to them, share your feelings and talk to someone, suicide will never be the solution to any problem but creating pain to your loved one. Getting through them is the way to make your life your own again.. Rhodes was estranged from his wife Lorraine, who lived in the East Bay in Port Chicago with their two kids, Rocky, 4, and Oowala, 9, but he made arrangements for her to witness the stunt, maybe in the hope that the feat would win her back. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Precious few people survive such a fall; the water about 200 feet below acts the same as concrete when a person lands on it at high speed. Well living isnt what its cracked up to be. Theres another post that might be helpful to you, too: You Cant Do Everything: Limitations in Helping a Suicidal Person. That is no way to live, but that is the reality. You can read more about this at http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c4447. Please enter valid email address to continue. Im here. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe now to receive more just like it. He has visited mental hospitals several times since his jump. Once her gap year was over, she moved back to California decided to attend U.C. Part of Audacy. Leads continue to come in, her parents said. I mean how long can I go ahead. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Therapists and doctors may help provide relief. what can I do. You might think that, once freed from the authority figures who prevented their suicide on the bridge, they still went on to by suicide. Copyright 2013 Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW, All Rights Reserved. I think it could be helpful to you. The Suicide Deterrent System, also known as the Safety Net, is being constructed to keep people from jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Not having the courage to fulfill my plan, I checked into treatment centers and each time I checked out I sank into suicidal depression again. Sydneyhas light brown hair and blue eyes. Precious few people survive such a fall; the water about 200 feet below acts the same as concrete when a person lands on it at high speed. Joshua Bote is the tech editor at SFGATE. All clues so far, the family has revealed, have not been fruitful. Although severe depression led him to jump off the bridge, Kevin Hines has stated: The very second I let go, I knew I had made a big mistake.. The ongoing survival of people who attempt suicide is not (always) inevitable. It is believed that she had moved out of the dorms into an apartment with some friends near campus. 19-year-old Sydney West was last seen Sept. 30. A jump off the Golden Gate Bridge takes around four seconds, during which a person will reach a speed of 80 mph before smashing into the water's surface like concrete. KCBS IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF CBS BROADCASTING INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Hundreds more are stopped from harming themselves through the efforts of the Golden Gate Bridge District . Thanks again for your thoughtful comment. Michael Horan at 415-553-1028 or the family's private investigator at 925-705-8328. But in reality, he cant know what the future holds. Im all right, Im prepared for this! Dusty Rhodes yelled as he launched himself from the Golden Gate Bridge. She was last seen in long, dark leggings, a teal hooded sweatshirt and slip-on Vans in a dark green and black print. This Walking Pad treadmill made getting 10,000 steps a How to get tickets for Depeche Mode's new tour dates. For his big ticket to stardom, Rhodes was inspired by a circus performer named Frank Cushing who was plucked out of the bay the previous year after claiming that he had just leaped from the bridge, though no one was there to see it. And these different medications can be combined at various dosages. Has he tried cognitive behavior therapy? He managed to turn himself upright in the few seconds it took for him to hit the water; this way, he did not land on his head. At approximately 6:45 am, Sydney was captured by cameras entering the Golden Gate Bridge. A good place to start is the Facebook group Live Through This. First published on January 25, 2021 / 11:03 AM. She had moved in with friends in San Francisco, where she was living when she disappeared. The Golden Gate Bridge came to be recognized as a symbol of the power and progress of the United States, and it set a precedent for suspension-bridge design around the world. My overdose gave me seizures. West was last seen on the Golden Gate Bridge onSept. 30, 2020 just before 7 a.m., according to the San Francisco Police Department. Perfectly so. America doesnt feed narcissistic people and men are more materialistic. Why Prevent Suicide? I inherited two guns from my Dad, and I will take possession of them this month. She was last seen around 6:45 am when she was dropped off by a rideshare driver. What happens is if you dont kill yourself you spend the rest of your life being told you didnt mean it. "We know that there was a lot of pedestrian, car and bicycle traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge the morning Sydney disappeared. Children are a major reason for living for many people who battle suicidal thoughts. Upon its completion in 1937, it was the tallest and longest suspension bridge in the world. Thanks again. Trackback URL Everything says Get help. Found it was in part due to hormone imbalance along with sugar imbalances, throw in that its winter along with little sleep, emotional bombs going off and I had the perfect storm. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings. I hear you. Additionally, Hines takes medication and . I just got out two days ago. I know how hard it is. But it was my final stay at a state mental hospital when I began reading a book that finally spoke to me: Dying for a Drink, and for the first time in my life I recognized the fact that I was an alcoholic and that I had been treating major depression with a depressant. Dec. 11, 2019 Updated: Dec. 12, 2019 8:06 a.m. 5. Another possibility is that the instinct to live kicks in once someone comes close to dying. All theses years following, I did not feel good about myself, am reunited with my nephew, reading up on how to talk to him. Although severe depression led him to jump off the bridge, Kevin Hines has stated: "The very second I let go, I knew I had made a big mistake." 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