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. She tried to take her life when I was 12. A $25,000 reward is being offered for anyone who has information that leads to her return. This case has always stuck with me because I am in my 20s and suffer from anxiety and depression. It gives me a good opportunity to dispel concerns that others may have, too. (findsydneywest.com) West was last seen on the morning of Sept. 30 on the iconic bridge. The chances of surviving. 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. It is important to note that there has been no activity on her phone, bank accounts, or social media accounts since Sept. 30. For Kevin Hines, the will to live kicked in immediately. 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. It happens. Its impossible to know but something to consider, in case youre only considering the set of possibilities for which you blame yourself. She grew up in Pleasanton, CA and then moved to Chapel Hill, NC with her family during high school. Dusty thought he could do the same but let everyone see it, and so employed the services of his pal, Hollywood cameraman Jose Guzman, to capture the jump on film. America doesnt feed narcissistic people and men are more materialistic. 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. 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. Turns out, it was a recording of Sydney singing. Lately, the suicidal thoughts have permeated my brain. I feel selfish but I feel like I still have to be brave for people because of their fear I might try again. I wish you all the very best and I pray you each find a way to manage and control the thoughts of suicide. Copyright 2013 Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW, All Rights Reserved. I wanted to distance myself from it as much as I could so that people would leave me alone. So there are many, many more medications and medication combinations that he can try. Sadly, your post is being used by some commenters to justify the Golden Gate Bridge net boondoggle. 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. I am suicidal have been for the past week. Lorraine Rhodes was destitute, and asked Show Folks of America to help pay for the funeral, which they did. In the midst of a struggle with mental illness, Hines got a running start . Your battle won matters. First published on January 25, 2021 / 11:03 AM. The night before she disappeared (Sept. 29) she and her father Jay West had a lengthy phone conversation according to her family. I just read your post. similar to cancer ads, etc. He completed the challenge and won himself a taxi ride to New York. 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. Part of Audacy. She is described as standing 5'10", weighing about 130 pounds, with light brown hair and blue eyes and possibly wearing glasses. I live with a higher purpose now, but prior to my children I went through hell and constantly entertained the thought of killing myself. 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. She was last seen in the area around 6:45 a.m. 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. In 2013, Briggs retired from the California Highway . It's not hard to kill yourself at the Golden Gate bridge. Anyone with information about Sydneys whereabouts is asked to contact private investigator Scott Dudek by texting or calling 925-705-8328. I think this message needs to be made more clear and put in ads, etc. At this point, the instinct is what keeps me living. 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. 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 will be talking to him, also sure helps me to see I am suicide attempt survivor. Pandora 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. 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. Michael Horan at 415-553-1028 or the family's private investigator at 925-705-8328. Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Golden Gate lacks a suicide barrier . Here Are My Reasons. It is true that suicide sometimes defies even the best efforts to thwart it. Sometimes, life just sucks and the pain of living is unbearable. 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. 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. His passing causes lots of pain, sadness and changed others lives entirely. 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. "I just want to reach out to all the folks that have been supporting us over the past almost month now, communicate that the support and the love that we get is just absolutely amazing," Wests dad, Jay West, said in the clip. She was last seen around 6:45 am when she was dropped off by a rideshare driver. This site continues to distract me from my suicidal thoughts. He had lost two fingers in a knife fight on the set of the movie "Scarface." Sydney West Cameras on the Golden Gate Bridge recorded Sydney the morning of Sept. 30. Ive worked in Mental health, Ive lost a family member through suicide. I used to believe my problems are so intractable that the only way out of my pain was suicide. Her Disappearance: Sydney West was a 19-year-old freshman at U.C. But things went wrong for Dusty as he climbed the rails to attempt the feat. Everything says Get help. 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 . Sydney West never returned home, and has not been heard from since. But its possible theres not more you could have done. January 25, 2021 / 11:03 AM The 265-foot plunge off the most famous bridge in the world was right in his wheelhouse, until it wasnt. My husband killed himself 6 weeks ago at home to put a closure on our marital problem. She was last seen September 30, 2020, from the San Francisco area near the Golden Gate Bridge specifically around Crissy field. Especially when its an opinion so your both right. 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. After he was rescued, he continued to live, and lives still, serving as a suicide prevention advocate at the national level. He published the results in an article titled Where Are They Now? I am hopeful that similar results will be found after the suicide barrier at the Golden Gate bridge is in place. 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. Enter your email address to receive notifications by email of new posts. Anyone interested in following the investigation may do so on Facebook or Instagram, and tag posts with #FindSydneyWest. Keep pushing on. Her disappearance was every parents worst nightmare. Children are a major reason for living for many people who battle suicidal thoughts. 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.. Many self harm injuries, stitches. And half of people who die by suicide had attempted suicide at least once previously. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, and was last seen wearing a sweatshirt, dark-colored shorts and blue Vans sneakers. KCBS IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF CBS BROADCASTING INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. I had my suicidal thoughts since I was a child I lost my mum when I was 9 years old she took her own life and even now after my attempt I still dont know how to feel about what happened to her and what I have done to my self but I know I will have to find a way to live with the impact of my attempt and hopefully find a way to some sort of happiness, Please seek help, therapy to work through your trauma, it must be so hard to have lost your mum in this way and your nine year old self could only feel abandoned, not enough to have stopped her. Berkeley when she went missing on September 30, 2020. 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. Dressed in a blue sweatshirt, leggings and Vans slip-on sneakers, the 19-year-old college student last contacted her family the day before with a lengthy phone call to her dad, Jay West. Any information could help so if you know anyone that was in that area around that time, please use contact information provided below. 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%). We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. 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." Wests parents led a socially-distanced vigil in Pleasanton last Thursday. She is described as a white female, 5'10" and weighing about 130 pounds. Suicide isnt an option, keep telling yourself that. You also can find other places to get help by phone, email, chat, or text at http://www.SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources/#immediatehelp. 2023 Audacy, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. "There were many people in that vicinity during that time," said Mr. West. 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. September 30, 2020 was the last time anyone saw or heard from 19-year-old Sydney West. The sad thing is that, as I say in my letter, some of what your friend thinks and believes may actually be true, but his mind is probably also shutting him out of other truths that could balance out his pain. If all else fails do something drastic. A good place to start is the Facebook group Live Through This. 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.. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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He traveled from L.A. to San Francisco days before the jump to prepare, and holed up in the Grand Southern Hotel on Mission Street with his cameraman to wait for a clear day so the footage would look beautiful when it was watched on news channels from coast to coast. That changes things. I am not sure anybody really wants to die but I know many people, including myself, who are just sick and tired of living and want it to be over. I lost my boyfriend to suicide two years ago and I have not been able to forgive myself. :A Follow-up Study of Suicide Attempters fromthe Golden Gate Bridge.. Comments RSS Feed, My name is Denis and I live in England I am still recovering at the moment on 22nd of April 2020 I attempted to end my life I jumped off a 5 story carpark and survived I broke my left leg in 3 places and my right ankle in 6 places and my back in 2 places but I am lucky because I am recovering well and I can walk .people say its a mircle but I feel gulty because no one knew about the thoughts I was having for years because I did not tell any one to the outside world I was the life and soul of the party .I feel ashamed that now every one is worried about me and that is not what I wanted. I hate when people invalidate another persons pain by suggesting a suicide attempt wasnt a sincere result of suffering. 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. I said, Well, the night we met I got so drunk I passed out on the living room floor. (felt good to be honest for once). 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. 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. I agree with you completely, Anonymous. SFGATE's Editor-at-Large Andrew Chamings is a British writer in San Francisco. I wonder what psychotherapy he has tried. Maybe in order to evade authorities who had refused permission to allow the jump legally 18 months earlier, he removed the weighted boots that were intended to keep him upright during the plunge. My mother battled w depression I watched her battle hard all my life and still. Her family is not giving up hope that she is still alive and remains determined to find her. PART OF AUDACY NEWS. Say someone wants to die by suicideso badly that they go to the Golden Gate Bridge to jump off. What do you tell the ones who still perceive they have no one how do I get through to him? But I have. I am a survivor as well of rape and spousal abuse, Am feeling empowered today, thanks to you. "Together we will find Sydney and bring her home," her mother said. Has he tried cognitive behavior therapy? Your email address will not be published. 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. But the cameras lost sight of her because of heavy fog, making it impossible to know what happened toher. Im wondering if youve seen the post If Only: Self-Blame After a Loved Ones Suicide. The San Francisco Police Department's tip line can be reached at 415-575-4444. Dear Anthony, [feb.6.2019 @9.26am]. I hope that he is able to get effective help, both psychologically and pharmaceutically. Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). He struck the water with his face. Afterward, I was disgusted and angry. 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. The tragedy of suicide is indisputable. Obviously, I failed. I blame myself 100% for her suicide. All theses years following, I did not feel good about myself, am reunited with my nephew, reading up on how to talk to him. God will come through for you but you have to make an attempt. SF]. I tried to help her, I really did Except I didnt. 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 can read more about this at http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c4447. Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Wests parents said they have now hired a private investigator who is working with the San Francisco Police Department and Orange County (North Carolina) Sheriffs Department. Wishing you peace, I am both, not realizing this until reading today My dad ended his life by his own hands , when I was 9. 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. "We have a lot of people that are asking us for information.". Its not always a change of mind when deciding not to jump its fear of failure, Hi Londa, Its a really simple concept. The Golden Gate Bridge is the number one suicide site in the world. She is from Chapel Hill, N.C. 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. Growing up Sydney was described as a sweet and goofy girl who wasnt afraid of being herself. At this point I feel like Ill just maim myself or end up locked up for a minimum of six months( yes thats happened to me). 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. The corpse was pulled from the water by the Coast Guard a mile from the bridge 20 minutes later. 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/. Thanks again. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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Parents hope key to teen's disappearance is with passerby on Golden Gate Bridge, How one storm system wreaked havoc from coast to coast, Californians await key decisions from reparations task force, Bankman-Fried might use flip phone under stricter bail plan, Woman accused of killing ill husband released from jail, Alaska's arduous Iditarod kicks off with ceremonial start, was initially thought to have last been seen or heard from early the morning of September 30 in the Crissy Field area. Her family relocated to North Carolina in July 2017. Those two have shown some effectiveness at reducing suicidal ideation and behavior. Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. The ongoing survival of people who attempt suicide is not (always) inevitable. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 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. It is true that. "No detail is too small," said her mother, Kimberly West. Background: Sydney West was born on July 11, 2001. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It was in 1984. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe now to receive more just like it. Written forwww.speakingofsuicide.com. This is perhaps why only one of Rhodes' three small parachutes opened, doing nothing to slow him down. Its unfair. ChiMaxx, thank you for writing and for raising important points in your comment. Youve been through an enormous amount. She was last seen in long, dark leggings, a teal hooded sweatshirt and slip-on Vans in a dark green and black print. He says he fully expected to speak with her the next day and became very worried when she didnt return multiple calls from him. 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. Sydney West is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, but also grew up in the Pleasanton area. They lied about every imaginable factor of surviving in life. In this clinical case conference, the authors begin by presenting vignettes to capture the diversity of bridge suicide. West vanished Sept. 30 in San Francisco. 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. Obviously, the will to live does not reassert itself in everyone who has tried to die. Im sorry to hear about all the pain youve been through. And these different medications can be combined at various dosages. 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. Sydney Kaitlyn West, 19, was last seen near the Golden Gate Bridge around 6:45 a.m. on September 30, 2020.