We remain hopeful that someone knows something that will be helpful in finding her.. She attempted suicide three times and was in mental hospitals, etc. Sadly, your post is being used by some commenters to justify the Golden Gate Bridge net boondoggle. I hear you. But then they are stopped from jumping. : The Fate of Suicide Attempt Survivors, A Follow-up Study of Suicide Attempters from. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Theres just a lack of evidence that shes not with us anyone, Jay West said. Sydney Kaitlyn West, 19, was last seen near the Golden Gate Bridge around 6:45 a.m. on September 30, 2020. Be blunt and honest dont sugar coat how you feel. 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. I am resigned to staying alive until I die in some other way. Her family relocated to North Carolina in July 2017. Copyright 2013 Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW, All Rights Reserved. It's not hard to kill yourself at the Golden Gate bridge. A. 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. At the time, a made for TV movie, named Silence of the Heart came out. 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. How many of the survivors were so injured by the attempt that they were unable to complete the act? Thank you for reaching out to Joan and offering your support. This is perhaps the best argument for preventing suicide. It was apparently very foggy that morning. Her parents,Jay and Kimberly West,said their daughter liked visiting that bridge and would go to nearby Crissy Field to exercise. But he didnt and will never know that what he had actually solved only his own problem- feeling/depression. Im afraid to try again and it just adds for anger, desperation, loss of control over my own life and guilt for those in my life who have to worry. But what if you dont want help? 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. User account menu. 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. The most intuitive reason is that suicidal crises are, by their nature, temporary. But the cameras lost sight of her because of heavy fog, making it impossible to know what happened toher. 19-year-old Sydney West was last seen Sept. 30. For more information, click here. Have you read Whats In the Way Is the Way by Mary OMalley? We talked for a long time. In the midst of a struggle with mental illness, Hines got a running start . But the other day I told him that and now hes moving in with me again so my life is going good again! "Folks that have seen anything that resembles Sydney, we really want to collect 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. After my attempt at suicide, I tried to find information about my feelings and what others were feeling. SF]. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Wests parents confirmed in a new video released late Thursday she was last seen shortly before 7 a.m. on the Golden Gate Bridge. I warned her of the possible dangers of the physical response to discontinuance, not thinking of her emotional well being. Here Are My Reasons. Overall, a meta-analysis of numerous studies that looked at bridges suicide barriers found them to be effective. A vigil was held last week for West in Pleasanton. I am so glad my attempt did not end in my death. I am a suicide survivor from India. Berkeley when she went missing on September 30, 2020. I have battled the thoughts of suicide for many years but after I had children those thoughts died. 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. 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. Its sad how much youve suffered, and its inspirational how differently you feel right now. Lorraine Rhodes was destitute, and asked Show Folks of America to help pay for the funeral, which they did. Thank you for contributing to the discussion. Dec. 11, 2019 Updated: Dec. 12, 2019 8:06 a.m. 5. Too, people who attempt suicide may receive the help they need afterwards. She talked to herfather on the phone the day before shewent missing. Many self harm injuries, stitches. 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%). Sydney West was last seen near the Golden Gate Bridge in the early morning hours of Sept. 30, walking near Crissy Field. I hate when people invalidate another persons pain by suggesting a suicide attempt wasnt a sincere result of suffering. Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Suicide needs to be addressed from many angles, of which means restriction is only one. She struggled with being so far away from her parents and sister, who reside in North Carolina. Obviously, I failed. I feel if I constantly feel like this over the years why dont I just die now? 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. She was last seen September 30, 2020, from the San Francisco area near the Golden Gate Bridge specifically around Crissy field. The Suicide Deterrent System, also known as the Safety Net, is being constructed to keep people from jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. 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. YEAH? I think this message needs to be made more clear and put in ads, etc. Cookie Notice 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. In this clinical case conference, the authors begin by presenting vignettes to capture the diversity of bridge suicide. Have you found commonality in your suicidal patients? Michael Horan at 415-553-1028 or the family's private investigator at 925-705-8328. 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. If all else fails do something drastic. I tried to commit suicide when I was 18. Additionally, Hines takes medication and . "Together we will find Sydney and bring her home," her mother said. I recently lost a good friend to suicide. The ongoing survival of people who attempt suicide is not (always) inevitable. You definitely are not alone, and it does often feel good to be honest about suicidal thoughts to speak what many people consider to be the unspeakable. After all, they were intent on dying. Hi Joan. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Kevin Briggs. Good luck to you, Joan. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. On average, 30 people or more die from suicide here each year. According to her family, a private investigator has followed up on dozens of tips, but none have led to West's whereabouts. 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. Come home.. Tears ago, when my children were younger, I actually reached a point where I went beyond imagining the trauma and lifelong suffering, to my children; such was my pain. Some die instantly from internal injuries, while others . Obviously, the will to live does not reassert itself in everyone who has tried to die. Thanks for sharing, Anne. 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. I also knew that there was no hope whatsoever for what was wrong with me. I wanted to distance myself from it as much as I could so that people would leave me alone. My mother battled w depression I watched her battle hard all my life and still. 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. The footage taken by Guzman didn't make the news, but was watched by a small, select group: the San Francisco coroners jury, which quickly ruled a case of accidental death from drowning a week later. At the time of her disappearance Sydney was 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs around 130 pounds with light brown hair and blue eyes. San Francisco Police have previously said the teenager "is considered at risk due to depression." Andrew has written for The Atlantic, Vice, SF Weekly, the San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney's, The Bold Italic, Drowned in Sound and many other places. I worry almost everyday that Ill maim myself again and not die. I wonder what psychotherapy he has tried. SFGATE's Editor-at-Large Andrew Chamings is a British writer in San Francisco. I am dead broke, have exhausted both my savings and retirement stash, I am about to have my car repod and cant find a job. What, Im supposed to carry on with the HOPE that things MIGHT get better. Healthcare sucks, Government sucks, Law Enforcement Sucks, the economy sucks, the housing market, job, market, and prospects suck, no body likes me, including myself, and I really dont like anyone else either. Reports said West would often visit the bridge for runs, walks, and to take pictures. 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. 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 often want to jump off the bridge by my apartment. The Golden Gate Bridge is the number one suicide site in the world. I supported her desire to stop taking her medication. That is so sad, Julie. Photos purchased from Fotolia.com. 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. Well living isnt what its cracked up to be. In Mental Health circles there is a saying , that Sometimes suicide is inevitable. All rights reserved. Which will turn into the vicious cycle of no job= no money, and no money = no job. She is described as a white female, 5'10" and weighing about 130 pounds. Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Golden Gate lacks a suicide barrier . 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. While in Australia she started blogging about beginning to experience bouts of depression on top of her anxiety. 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. 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. 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. 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. Challenges, extreme challenges. This is perhaps the best argument for preventing suicide. SFGATE news editor Amy Graff contributed to this report. Sydney is considered at risk due to depression, said SFPD Officer Robert Rueca to KRON4. 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. Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. This research, though 35 years old, still holds true. West was in the Bay Area to take summer classes at UC Berkeley; she was supposed to enter school in the fall, but due to a concussion she sustained and classes being held remotely, she opted to defer for another year but stayed in California with family friends. Dressed in a blue sweatshirt, leggings and Vans slip-on sneakers,. In the 1970s, a researcher named Richard Seiden wanted to find out what happened to 515 people who came to the Golden Gate Bridge to die within the previous 35 years, but who were stopped by California Highway Patrol officers. Another possibility is that the instinct to live kicks in once someone comes close to dying. And now I have the means to do it. Where Are They Now? She was last seen around 6:45 am when she was dropped off by a rideshare driver. I know someone who hanged themself 18 months ago after a buildup of personal problems and much alcohol that night, but rescue services were called and saved him. She tried to take her life when I was 12. Rhodes, who also went by his native Navajo name Chief Sundown, was no stranger to danger. I just read your post. I guess I have started to realize its not my faultits no ones fault when a loved one commits suicide. Dayna. Its complicated, Bay Area city cracks top 10 best for sleep: US News, JV talked about health struggles before disappearance, Martinez residents warned not to eat food grown in, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It may feel 100% true to him. Privacy Policy. 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. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Watching "The Bridge" -- a new documentary that captures 23 suicide jumps from the bridge . . Once her gap year was over, she moved back to California decided to attend U.C. Keep pushing on. Holidays and milestones come and go while we continue to feelSydney's absence continuously. Sydney Kaitlyn West, 19, was last seen near the Golden Gate Bridge around 6:45 a.m. on September 30, 2020. Saving Lives at the Golden Gate Bridge. There is a strength within you. Footage in the area, according to a website the family recently set up in light of her disappearance, was blocked by fog and morning haze. This site continues to distract me from my suicidal thoughts. That changes things. The 265-foot plunge off the most famous bridge in the world was right in his wheelhouse, until it wasnt. West's family urges anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Scott Dudek, their investigator, who can be reached at 925-705-8328. Thanks again for your thoughtful comment. 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. 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/. I wear various hats: I created and maintain this website, Speaking of Suicide, I'm an associate professor at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, and I have a psychotherapy and consulting practice. People are stupid. Theyre asking anyone "who may have been walking, biking, running, who commute over the bridge particularly Wednesday mornings at that time" to share information if they might have seen West or anything that can help locate the missing teen. But its possible theres not more you could have done. 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. Im sorry to hear about all the pain youve been through. My hope for others feeling like that is they tell someone who can help them. It turns out that I had, and still have, many misconceptions about myself and the people in encounter. Youve been through an enormous amount. I wonder if you might benefit from talking with like-minded folks at ChronicSuicideSupport.com. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. He recovered physically, but mentally he is now depressed and on anti-depressants,has anxiety attacks, is too emotional for working, and keeps saying he wishes he had succeeded with his attempt as he feels a burden to everyone. I did find this website and it has so much information that I needed to read. 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. I said, Well, the night we met I got so drunk I passed out on the living room floor. Her father grew worried when she didnt call the next day the day she was last spotted in San Francisco. The details of your life will, of course, be different but we have our humanness in common. I blame myself 100% for her suicide. It is wonderful that having children seems to have inoculated you against suicidal thoughts. If you want to talk with someone immediately by phone, text, or chat, please check out the Resources page. An estimated 1,600 people have committed suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, which has warnings but no barrier. She took a ride-share service. Sydney West never returned home, and has not been heard from since. 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. (findsydneywest.com) West was last seen on the morning of Sept. 30 on the iconic bridge. Her disappearance was every parents worst nightmare. Millions of eyes are going to locate her better than 20 sets, Jay West said. Try convincing someone like me that life is worth it. First published on January 25, 2021 / 11:03 AM. In 2013, 118 potential jumpers were talked down from their attempts and did not jump. So when crazy people did crazy things in public places, excited crowds would gather. I am a survivor as well of rape and spousal abuse, Am feeling empowered today, thanks to you. 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. My overdose gave me seizures. Sometimes, life just sucks and the pain of living is unbearable. Anyone with information is asked to call 415-575-4444. PLEASANTON, Calif. (KRON) Nearly a year has gone by since a Bay Area college student, Sydney West, vanished in San Francisco. What happens is if you dont kill yourself you spend the rest of your life being told you didnt mean it. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. I know that this surprises many people. I have to attend Court for something I have not done, the pressures that as put on me is colossal, yetI still have to attend, I know I will collapse in court from the stress and also have a serious heart condition on medication for it. He now works daily, and diligently, to manage continued symptoms that can include depression and hearing voices. And now Ive been out of rehab for 5 months and its weird because all a sudden everything is going my way now. What % of those people were financially ruined (ie dead broke) with no job or no home? If I make it, Ill have publicity and be on my way, Rhodes told a friend who later testified at the coroners inquest. San Francisco police and the Orange County Sheriffs Office in North Carolina did not immediately respond to a request for comment from SFGATE. West's parents are asking anyone who may have been. Such an assumption would be wrong. He has visited mental hospitals several times since his jump. Thanks again. Sydney West's parents confirmed she was last seen on the Golden Gate Bridge. I cant tell you how much of what you write touches me in some way. similar to cancer ads, etc. My name is Steven. Simply put unless you die the battle won or pain doesnt matter. I am sure your little self felt am I not lovable enough but it was never about you, your mum was in pain and obviously thought you would be better off without her, but it is not a reflection on you, hard to accept as children are programmed to feel the centre of the world.
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