And there ended Rhodes four-years-in-the-making attempt to wow crowds and find fame by jumping from the bridge into the bay. And the children are adults now. We remain hopeful that someone knows something that will be helpful in finding her.. That's a mind-blowing statement. Edit: FAQs https://findsydneywest.com/faq, https://www.pollyklaas.org/missing-children/sydney-west/, https://pleasantonweekly.com/news/2021/09/30/what-a-week-find-sydney-west, https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/searching-for-sydney-san-francisco-police-still-asking-for-publics-help/?fbclid=IwAR2uVE3anCjr5EvpUerTiD6JZxCAENR83-xIRz3TRzAfRuGckyYFzRqnobM, https://storiesoftheunsolved.com/2020/11/27/the-disappearance-of-sydney-west/. It may help,, Kind Regards, First published on January 25, 2021 / 11:03 AM. SFGATE's Editor-at-Large Andrew Chamings is a British writer in San Francisco. Watching "The Bridge" -- a new documentary that captures 23 suicide jumps from the bridge . His passing causes lots of pain, sadness and changed others lives entirely. Your pain matters. But then they are stopped from jumping. All rights reserved. We talked a lot about loving each other. Privacy Policy. 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. Even for people who passionately wish and perhaps even need (for health reasons) to lose weight, they do not always prevail. This is perhaps the best argument for preventing suicide. Which will turn into the vicious cycle of no job= no money, and no money = no job. I cant tell you how much of what you write touches me in some way. My sons father committed suicide and in the moments he was alive after shooting himself he kept saying sorry I shouldnt have never done this over and over. All 29 people who survived their suicide attempts off San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge have said they regretted their decision as soon as they jumped. Taking into account suicides that might have been missed by researchers, Dr. Seiden stated that 90% of people who tried to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge did not go on to die by suicide. At 11:45 a.m. on Sept. 20, 2013 Kyle Gamboa stopped his truck in the middle of the highway, stepped out, ran onto the pedestrian walkway and jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge to his death. A jump off the Golden Gate Bridge takes around four seconds, during which a person will reach a speed of 80 mphbefore smashing into the water's surface like concrete. Some die instantly from internal injuries, while others . The persons reasons for dying may begin to fade. Dear Anthony, [feb.6.2019 @9.26am]. Or, at least, balanced! But he didnt and will never know that what he had actually solved only his own problem- feeling/depression. Family of Sydney West, missing UC Berkeley student, renews search . "Jump." That's the word Kevin Hines heard in his head on September 25, 2000, as he stood on the Golden Gate Bridge. Camera footage has been reviewed and interviews have been conducted among West's friends and acquaintances, but there are no leads. Enter your email address to receive notifications by email of new posts. Press J to jump to the feed. Everything says Get help. In the midst of a struggle with mental illness, Hines got a running start . 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Now I dont know if I can fight it, but coping with failure and constant depression is impossible. Key to my recovery was becoming realistic about my part in creating the calamity called my life, but also needed to recognize others responsibilities as well. After graduating high school in 2019, she decided to take a gap year in Australia. As well, though, I believe I may have accidentally given myself something like ECT. She is described as standing 5'10", weighing about 130 pounds, with light brown hair and blue eyes and possibly wearing glasses. Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Golden Gate lacks a suicide barrier . Afterward, I was disgusted and angry. Golden Gate Bridge | History, Construction, & Facts | Britannica Her mother Kimberly West has said to a journalist The bridge was quite busy (that day). 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. Therapists and doctors may help provide relief. West had just gone off to college to her dream school, University of California Berkeley. Thank you for providing this site. Both my son and I said we woud never consider it again, after that. 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I just read your post. Why Prevent Suicide? I tried commiting suicide and ended up brain dead Then after I got out of the coma, I was put in rehab for 11 months where I kept trying to break my neck and die because I missed my fiance so much (he wasnt allowed to visit me because he had attempted suicide with me too since he didnt want to live without me). I feel if I constantly feel like this over the years why dont I just die now? I still think about suicide, although not as often. If prior research is any indication, the barrier will save lives, even when taking into account people who go elsewhere to die by suicide. It was a serious, intentional attempt to end my own life. "We know that there was a lot of pedestrian, car and bicycle traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge the morning Sydney disappeared. The Suicide Deterrent System, also known as the Safety Net, is being constructed to keep people from jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. I mean how long can I go ahead. You can find a life worth living, too, if you set your mind to finding solutions. But things went wrong for Dusty as he climbed the rails to attempt the feat. The Golden Gate Bridge crosses the Golden Gate Strait and connects the City of San Francisco and the County of Marin to the north. She is from Chapel Hill, N.C. Sydneyhas light brown hair and blue eyes. A $25,000 reward is being offered for anyone who has information that leads to her return. They have a good, nonjudgmental, and supportive discussions at ChronicSuicideSupport.com/forum/. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. PART OF AUDACY NEWS. You might be helped by connecting with other people who have attempted suicide and can understand not only what can lead a person to do that, but also what comes after. of the different medications. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The Pittsburg Sun-Telegraph on May 2, 1948. She failed at killing herself and learned a different process of questions to see her feelings. Youve been through an enormous amount. It certainly sounds like your friends antidepressants are not working. In 2000, he actually did jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. You can read more about this at http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c4447. I am so very grateful now to be alive and I hope to find ways to assist others going through the deep abyss that can sometimes take over your entire being take another breath, and another. West was born in Walnut Creek and lived briefly in Castro Valley before her family moved to Pleasanton. Maybe I didnt want to think he could actually do it. Dr. Freedenthal also is an associate professor at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, and a psychotherapist and consultant in private practice. Suicides at the Golden Gate Bridge - Wikipedia It is true that suicide sometimes defies even the best efforts to thwart it. I am a three time attempt suicide survivor and it has been a year since my last attempt and the ideation has pretty much left me. I agree with you completely, Anonymous. The longitude and latitude for the Bridge location is approximately: N 37 Degrees, 49 Minutes, 8.0 Seconds --- W 122 Degrees, 28 Minutes, 40.6 Seconds. I often think that if we are going to make up what we tell ourselves about our future, we might at least make it good. Police do not necessarily believe there was foul play involved, according to an interview Rueca had with KRON4. Say someone wants to die by suicideso badly that they go to the Golden Gate Bridge to jump off. For Kevin Hines, the will to live kicked in immediately. Any information could help so if you know anyone that was in that area around that time, please use contact information provided below. West, 19, disappeared on a foggy San Francisco morning, around 6:45 a.m. to 7 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 on the Golden Gate Bridge. Dont believe anyone who tells you differently. Its sad how much youve suffered, and its inspirational how differently you feel right now. I address the myth of inevitable suicide in this post. 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. Dealing with the guilt is the hardest thing I have ever dealt with. She struggled with being so far away from her parents and sister, who reside in North Carolina. In Mental Health circles there is a saying , that Sometimes suicide is inevitable. For me, the will to live kicked in. I would bet that most, if not all, had narcissistic mothers. I want you to know you are loveable and precious. His father had died by suicide and even though I knew all of this, I couldnt see the forest through the trees. I am very sorry for your loss. Im recommending this because of your sense that you could have stopped the suicide from happening if you hadnt been so stupid, as you so painfully put it. What happens is if you dont kill yourself you spend the rest of your life being told you didnt mean it. 2023 Audacy, Inc. All rights reserved. I know how hard it is. She was, for a period of time, carrying a black backpack that she frequently used to get around town. September 30, 2020 was the last time anyone saw or heard from 19-year-old Sydney West. Berkeley when she went missing on September 30, 2020. Find Sydney West: Bay Area college student missing for nearly 1 year Your battle won matters. You cant will people to live. Im sorry youre feeling so bad that your suicide seems, to you, to be inevitable. Golden Gate Bridge, suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate in California to link San Francisco with Marin county to the north. In Toronto, the barrier at the Bloor Viaduct did not reduce the number of people who died of suicide by jumping in the city; it just moved them to other locations. My name is Steven. The articles abstract states: Following the interventions, there was an 86% reduction in jumping suicides per year at the sites in question (95% CI 79% to 91%). Growing up Sydney was described as a sweet and goofy girl who wasnt afraid of being herself. My reason to live is so I dont hurt people who care but what if you have no one who cares there was a time I had no one it was only my stupidity that got the hospital aware of my attempt. I did find this website and it has so much information that I needed to read. (felt good to be honest for once). A good place to start is the Facebook group Live Through This. 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. This Walking Pad treadmill made getting 10,000 steps a How to get tickets for Depeche Mode's new tour dates. I tried to commit suicide when I was 18. Simply put, means restriction saves lives. Her family is not giving up hope that she is still alive and remains determined to find her. 19-year-old Sydney West was last seen Sept. 30. :A Follow-up Study of Suicide Attempters fromthe Golden Gate Bridge.. Holidays and milestones come and go while we continue to feelSydney's absence continuously. I tried to help her, I really did Except I didnt. Also Live Through This website has beautiful portraits (photographic but also in prose) of people who survived a suicide attempt. Case Contact Information: SFPD at 415-575-444 or text TIP411 (Start your message with SFPD) Or contact: private investigator Scott Dudek at 925-705-8328 or dudek.associates@gmail.com, *there is a reward for information that leads to her location and return, For more info: https://findsydneywest.com/ Facebook: Find Sydney West Instagram @find_sydney_west Polly Klaas Foundation: https://www.pollyklaas.org/missing-children/sydney-west/, Sources: https://pleasantonweekly.com/news/2021/09/30/what-a-week-find-sydney-west https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/searching-for-sydney-san-francisco-police-still-asking-for-publics-help/?fbclid=IwAR2uVE3anCjr5EvpUerTiD6JZxCAENR83-xIRz3TRzAfRuGckyYFzRqnobM https://storiesoftheunsolved.com/2020/11/27/the-disappearance-of-sydney-west/. 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. 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 . Thank you for reaching out to Joan and offering your support. 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. Have you found commonality in your suicidal patients? She vanished without a trace from San Francisco, California, near the Golden Gate Bridge, a popular tourist spot for many. According to Find Sydney West, there is a $25,000 reward for information that leads to finding Syd, who is described as 5'10 tall and about 130 pounds with blue eyes and blonde hair. Look at life this way Instead of allowing a human being to be a target almost like a bomb dropping on ringed target Simply flip the idea of all the violence and fear over..Draw a Large Heart then several hearts within Make a plan for dreams and plans Stick to it .. 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. I am so glad my attempt did not end in my death. This research, though 35 years old, still holds true. So they dont die, but continue miserable lives wishing for it to be over. Sometimes, life just sucks and the pain of living is unbearable. What % of those people were financially ruined (ie dead broke) with no job or no home? She was last seen in the area around 6:45 a.m. / CBS San Francisco. I have battled the thoughts of suicide for many years but after I had children those thoughts died. My husband killed himself 6 weeks ago at home to put a closure on our marital problem. There is only a 4ft safety rail separating the sidewalk from the void, and 98% of suicide attempts there have succeeded. Video footage from the bridge has been carefully reviewed by investigators but due to foggy and smoky conditions camera views where obstructed making it impossible to tell her exact location on the bridge. The family of a Sydney West, a 19-year-old Pleasanton native and former Foothill High School student, is again asking the public for any information about their daughters whereabouts leading up to her disappearance last month in San Francisco. Maybe some of the posts on this site could be helpful to him? The memoir Half in Love: Surviving the Legacy of Suicide captures very well, to a painful degree, how someone who deeply loves their children can simultaneously feel pulled to end her life. Be blunt and honest dont sugar coat how you feel. I just hope that one day her family will get answers. Its a really simple concept. This site continues to distract me from my suicidal thoughts. Photos purchased from Fotolia.com. There are some reports that Sydney may have suffered from depression. It would be logical to assume that being prevented from jumping merely delayed their death. And its been a long term plan, for 35 years, but become refined in that time. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings. None of us can. People Who Have Jumped From The Golden Gate Bridge He might also have refused to remove the gun from the home, too. Indie Pop Star Michelle Lambert Kicks Off the Bankhead Courtyard Concert Series! 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. Has left me pretty much bankrupt and not willing to live. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, and was last seen wearing a sweatshirt, dark-colored shorts and blue Vans sneakers. I just got out two days ago. Thats simply not true, but it took stepping outside my beliefs, becoming teachable and following the leads of others to find a life worth living. Sydney West's parents confirmed she was last seen on the Golden Gate Bridge. Obviously, the will to live does not reassert itself in everyone who has tried to die. Throughout the years, Ive engaged in self-injurious behaviors. 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. Thanks for sharing, Anne. We are going to keep looking.. Here Are My Reasons. The most intuitive reason is that suicidal crises are, by their nature, temporary. Theres another post that might be helpful to you, too: You Cant Do Everything: Limitations in Helping a Suicidal Person. 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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. A missing person case has also been launched in Orange County, North Carolina, where West's family lives. This is certainly true for me: narcissistic mother and sister. Im wondering if youve seen the post If Only: Self-Blame After a Loved Ones Suicide. The 265-foot plunge off the most famous bridge in the world was right in his wheelhouse, until it wasnt. I saw him hit the water like a bullet, said his wife. Its unfair. As of 2013, it is estimated that 34 people have survived after jumping. Im not sure that preventing suicide is such a noble act. 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. Andrew was formerly a Creative Executive at Westbrook Studios. On the morning of September 30, 2020, Sydney took a ride share service to the Golden Gate Bridge, where she often went to jog, practice yoga, and exercise in nearby Crissy Field.