User account menu. 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. None of us can. Rhodes also made the news in 1946 on a radio program called Truth or Consequences in which he was bizarrely tasked with living on a traffic island on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea for three weeks. Copyright 2013-2023 Stacey Freedenthal. 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. West vanished Sept. 30 in San Francisco. We talked a lot about loving each other. 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. Anyone in the Bay Area with any information regarding her disappearancecan contact Sgt. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Indie Pop Star Michelle Lambert Kicks Off the Bankhead Courtyard Concert Series! Growing up Sydney was described as a sweet and goofy girl who wasnt afraid of being herself. West returned to the Bay Area for college at UC Berkeley after her family moved from Pleasanton to North Carolina several years ago. She struggled with being so far away from her parents and sister, who reside in North Carolina. I feel fortunate and very grateful that so many individuals take their time and devote energy to sharing what they have experienced in their lives-it is so difficult for most people to understand in its wholeness-the value of life ..the science of every day living and the extreme depth and mystery and solstice to human beings, but one way to start understanding why people: innocents commit suicide is to acknowlege the exact factors of why a healthy person would just turn off the switch to existence. Sydney Kaitlyn West, 19, was last seen near the Golden Gate Bridge around 6:45 a.m. on September 30, 2020. T he Golden Gate Bridge is one of the top suicide sites in the world, surpassed only by the Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing, China.People have jumped off of the bridge for nearly as long as it's been accessible to the public; the first recorded suicide a World War I veteran suspected to have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder took place less than three months after the . Ken Baldwin. Dont believe anyone who tells you differently. Log In Sign Up. Suicide needs to be addressed from many angles, of which means restriction is only one. I hear you. Suicide prevention can save lives. It is true that suicide sometimes defies even the best efforts to thwart it. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. She had moved in with friends in San Francisco, where she was living when she disappeared. People are stupid. :A Follow-up Study of Suicide Attempters fromthe Golden Gate Bridge.. Note: I wanted to make this post to hopefully create some sort of discussion around the case since it was almost a year and a half ago. 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. The man who tried to find fame by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, 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. It was apparently very foggy that morning. I am hopeful that similar results will be found after the suicide barrier at the Golden Gate bridge is in place. But I have. Getting through them is the way to make your life your own again.. You might think that, once freed from the authority figures who prevented their suicide on the bridge, they still went on to by suicide. Anyone with information is asked to call 415-575-4444. 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. Even though 2/3 are started by women, Virtually every article is written by women. Its great to hear that things are going well for you now. I tried by drinking mosquito poison. A view of the Golden Gate Bridge with San Francisco behind it in January 1947. 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. Camera footage has been reviewed and interviews have been conducted among West's friends and acquaintances, but there are no leads. In 2000, he actually did jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. And its been a long term plan, for 35 years, but become refined in that time. She grew up in Pleasanton, CA and then moved to Chapel Hill, NC with her family during high school. I pray tonight. The chances of surviving are less than 1.5%, and almost zero if the feet don't hit first. Your battle won matters. That's a mind-blowing statement. Im here. I saw him hit the water like a bullet, said his wife. Each. 15, 12, by Americaoncoffee. January 25, 2021 / 11:03 AM Its not always a change of mind when deciding not to jump its fear of failure, Hi Londa, This is perhaps why only one of Rhodes' three small parachutes opened, doing nothing to slow him down. Female Representation In The Tech And Startup World: UC Berkeley, Berkeley Asks Residents To Provide Input On Wildfire Response, American Tulip Day & Free, U-Pick-Tulips 2023: Union Square, San Francisco, Rotary Club's Drive-Thru Crab & Pasta Feed 2023: Orinda. He completed the challenge and won himself a taxi ride to New York. Some die instantly from internal injuries, while others . More women attempt suicide but more men complete it because men use more lethal methods. In 2013, Briggs retired from the California Highway . I worry almost everyday that Ill maim myself again and not die. 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. . They planned to reconvene in L.A. the following day to hatch a plan to monetize the footage. In this clinical case conference, the authors begin by presenting vignettes to capture the diversity of bridge suicide. Sure if youve got someone/s to bail you out after your attempt, yeah youve got a reason to live. Andrew was formerly a Creative Executive at Westbrook Studios. It may help,, Kind Regards, There was a 44% increase in jumping suicides per year at nearby sites (95% CI 15% to 81%), but the net gain was a 28% reduction in all jumping suicides per year in the study cities (95% CI 13% to 40%).. But things went wrong for Dusty as he climbed the rails to attempt the feat. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. She is described as a white female, 5'10" and weighing about 130 pounds. But, as you said, the problem is also bigger than a question of means. Please enter valid email address to continue. You also can find other places to get help by phone, email, chat, or text at http://www.SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources/#immediatehelp. Especially when its an opinion so your both right. I recently lost a good friend to suicide. and our We dont like living in pain, and we look for ways of ending that pain and, being creatures of habit, we do it in old familiar ways because thats what we know. My overdose gave me seizures. She was, for a period of time, carrying a black backpack that she frequently used to get around town. I inherited two guns from my Dad, and I will take possession of them this month. I want you to know you are loveable and precious. All clues so far, the family has revealed, have not been fruitful. I died that day too. But its possible theres not more you could have done. Your comments are false. I did find this website and it has so much information that I needed to read. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. 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 think it could be helpful to you. Previously, police said she had not been seen or heard from since before dawn, on Sept. 29. I would bet that most, if not all, had narcissistic mothers. And for most of those whose lives were saved, life goes on for many more years to come. Friends and family may rally to their side. I am very sorry for your loss. Im all right, Im prepared for this! Dusty Rhodes yelled as he launched himself from the Golden Gate Bridge. . I love the analogy with weight loss. suicide sometimes defies even the best efforts to thwart it, University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, http://www.SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources/#immediatehelp, If Only: Self-Blame After a Loved Ones Suicide, You Cant Do Everything: Limitations in Helping a Suicidal Person, a meta-analysis of numerous studies that looked at bridges suicide barriers, Generally, research into method substitution, 10 Things Not to Say to a Suicidal Person. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. You can find a life worth living, too, if you set your mind to finding solutions. They lied about every imaginable factor of surviving in life. My husband killed himself 6 weeks ago at home to put a closure on our marital problem. At the time, a made for TV movie, named Silence of the Heart came out. Throughout the years, Ive engaged in self-injurious behaviors. Dayna. West may have been wearing dark leggings, blue Vans shoes and a teal sweatshirt at the time of her disappearance. And they did for the Hollywood stuntmans attempt to sail off the Golden Gate Bridge on Feb. 6, 1948. 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." I pretended to have an awakening and successfully faked a born-again quality joy that warded off the idiotic, feeble attempts of others to help me. Here Are My Reasons. All rights reserved. And now I have the means to do it. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Ive worked in Mental health, Ive lost a family member through suicide. Rhodes, who also went by his native Navajo name Chief Sundown, was no stranger to danger. SF]. True or false is a perception that changes from person to person. 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. Thanks for sharing your story here. 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). We cannot overlook that 10% of people who survive a suicide attempt do go on to die by suicide. Golden Gate Bridge, suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate in California to link San Francisco with Marin county to the north. Thank you for reaching out to Joan and offering your support. What happens is if you dont kill yourself you spend the rest of your life being told you didnt mean it. I am sure your mum will be watching over you, so sad that she caused you so much pain, please seek help, you are precious, with love xxx. At times I hate myself. Had medical intervention on the second. The night before she disappeared (Sept. 29) she and her father Jay West had a lengthy phone conversation according to her family. She is described as standing 5'10", weighing about 130 pounds, with light brown hair and blue eyes and possibly wearing glasses. Also, on the Resources page, I list a number of websites and other resources for people who have lost someone to suicide. I saw the signs, the depression, his feelings of hopelessness, but somehow its easier to see the signs after it happens and not while you are in the throes of this emotional rollercoaster. You provide inspiration to others who still are stuck in that hopelessness and despair. Simply put, means restriction saves lives. Her Disappearance: Sydney West was a 19-year-old freshman at U.C. But what about people like me? Your message here is a good one. As a person who has tried countless times to end my life, even shooting myself in the head, we are stuck living with yet another feeling of failure when we fail and continue suffering. Thanks again. "There were many people in that vicinity during that time," said Mr. West. It is also possible she was wearing eyeglasses instead of contact lenses. Upon its completion in 1937, it was the tallest and longest suspension bridge in the world. Same with divorce. Your email address will not be published. A couple hours. 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. I tried to commit suicide when I was 18. In fact, the increase in suicides at other locations in Toronto did not make up for the dramatic decrease in suicides at the viaduct itself. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, and was last seen wearing a sweatshirt, dark-colored shorts and blue Vans sneakers. For more information, please see our 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. I cant tell you how much of what you write touches me in some way. Once her gap year was over, she moved back to California decided to attend U.C. San Francisco police and the Orange County Sheriffs Office in North Carolina did not immediately respond to a request for comment from SFGATE. I put up a front so my kids wont end up the same way. Horrified spectators screamed and mothers covered their childrens eyes as Chief Sundowns lifeless body bobbed under the bridge and out to sea. Michael Horan at 415-553-1028 or the family's private investigator at 925-705-8328. She was last seen around 6:45 am when she was dropped off by a rideshare driver. 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/. Dear Anthony, [feb.6.2019 @9.26am]. The chances of surviving. I wish everyone could receive this gift, and I am grateful that you and others have done so! Her family launched a website,findsydneywest.com, that they hope will remind the community Sydney is still missing. I know you mean well, but I always feel I wished I never survived. Its a really simple concept. As 6 months passes where we have not seen or heard fromSydney, it becomes increasingly painful, her parents, Jay and Kimberly West, said in a statement provided to SFGATE. When I woke up a day later, my depression had greatly improved. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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. West, 20, grew up in Pleasanton, Calif. She was a star volleyball player at Foothill High School and loved singing at open mic nights. We remain hopeful that someone knows something that will be helpful in finding her.. Saving Lives at the Golden Gate Bridge. I know that this surprises many people. [This comment was edited, per the Comments Policy. She was last seen in long, dark leggings, a teal hooded sweatshirt and slip-on Vans in a dark green and black print. 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. 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. Hello Tony, so sorry for my belated response. Have had lots of therapy after that. A good place to start is the Facebook group Live Through This. A $25,000 reward is being offered for anyone who has information that leads to her return. So they dont die, but continue miserable lives wishing for it to be over. The persons reasons for dying may begin to fade. It certainly sounds like your friends antidepressants are not working. I used to believe my problems are so intractable that the only way out of my pain was suicide. I still think about suicide, although not as often. There is not much known about the day Sydney disappeared. Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge suicide net, a coarse web of steel designed to catch and cradle people who jump, is two years behind . Everything says Get help. The Pittsburg Sun-Telegraph on May 2, 1948. For me, the will to live kicked in. I warned her of the possible dangers of the physical response to discontinuance, not thinking of her emotional well being. Such an assumption would be wrong. Also, I've authored 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. All theses years following, I did not feel good about myself, am reunited with my nephew, reading up on how to talk to him. 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. BERKELEY, CA The parents of Sydney "Syd" West, a missing person who was previously a University of California, Berkeley student, have divulged new details in her case and are asking anyone with information to come forward. More often than not, the crisis passes. Background: Sydney West was born on July 11, 2001. It is wonderful that having children seems to have inoculated you against suicidal thoughts. My hope for others feeling like that is they tell someone who can help them. He grew up in the Los Angeles area, went to UC Berkeley and has previously worked as a news reporter at USA Today and SFGATE and as a music writer at NPR. Thats why I searched for answers and I found this site. 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. I address the myth of inevitable suicide in this post. That changes things. What Dr. Seiden found is a remarkable testament to the fact that a suicidal crisis is often very often temporary. West is 5'10" and slender at 130 pounds, with blue eyes and light brown hair. Sydney West's parents confirmed she was last seen on the Golden Gate Bridge. For suicidal individuals and their loved ones, survivors, mental health professionals, & others who care, Although severe depression led him to jump off the bridge, Kevin Hines, Yet it gives me great hope that the vast majority of suicide attempt survivors remain just that survivors.