Its always women telling men what we should be. I fully expected to talk to her the next day, Jay West told KRON4. 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. 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. Both my son and I said we woud never consider it again, after that. SF]. Sydney West Cameras on the Golden Gate Bridge recorded Sydney the morning of Sept. 30. The persons reasons for dying may begin to fade. For me, the will to live kicked in. San Francisco Police have previously said the teenager "is considered at risk due to depression." It is true that. Previously, police said she had not been seen or heard from since before dawn, on Sept. 29. Suicide isnt an option, keep telling yourself that. For more information, click here. And the children are adults now. I warned her of the possible dangers of the physical response to discontinuance, not thinking of her emotional well being. Everything says Get help. In this clinical case conference, the authors begin by presenting vignettes to capture the diversity of bridge suicide. 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. 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.. If prior research is any indication, the barrier will save lives, even when taking into account people who go elsewhere to die by suicide. I feel if I constantly feel like this over the years why dont I just die now? It's not hard to kill yourself at the Golden Gate bridge. Say someone wants to die by suicideso badly that they go to the Golden Gate Bridge to jump off. "This will be the biggest jump of my life," he told her. 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. They would split the profits from the film 50/50. Part of Audacy. 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. Watching "The Bridge" -- a new documentary that captures 23 suicide jumps from the bridge . West was last seen on the Golden Gate Bridge onSept. 30, 2020 just before 7 a.m., according to the San Francisco Police Department. I am a 60+ year old woman with four grown kids and six grandkids and when the darkness set in I could no longer see the effect this would have had on their lives. 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. So when crazy people did crazy things in public places, excited crowds would gather. The four-second fall from the Golden Gate Bridge sends a person plunging . 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. I couldnt pull all the way. My advice to you or to those considering suicide or attempted suicide, please THINK of your loved one, your family and friends. Sometimes, life just sucks and the pain of living is unbearable. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe now to receive more just like it. (felt good to be honest for once). Im sorry to hear of your loss 10 Reasons Teens Avoid Telling Parents about Suicidal Thoughts. Indie Pop Star Michelle Lambert Kicks Off the Bankhead Courtyard Concert Series! 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. 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. I cant tell you how much of what you write touches me in some way. 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. Same with divorce. Hi Joan. I understand completely. She talked to herfather on the phone the day before shewent missing. Sadly, your post is being used by some commenters to justify the Golden Gate Bridge net boondoggle. China sets this year's economic growth target at 'around 5%', Year after the slap, Chris Rock punches back in new special, Biden's Selma visit puts spotlight back on voting rights, Trump pitches a sequel, but shies away from attacking rivals, 20 cars of Norfolk Southern cargo train derail in Ohio, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 19; 3 still missing, Athlete dead in shipwreck left Pakistan to help disabled son, China expands defense budget 7.2%, marking slight increase, Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway and husband are divorcing, Teen hikers rescued after days stuck in California snowstorm. September 30, 2020 was the last time anyone saw or heard from 19-year-old Sydney West. 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. I wonder what psychotherapy he has tried. 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. 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. It gives me a good opportunity to dispel concerns that others may have, too. 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. January 25, 2021 / 11:03 AM Getting through them is the way to make your life your own again.. Its unfair. The main principle to this is very simple Taking energy and harnessing it for the good and nothing can go wrong.. He completed the challenge and won himself a taxi ride to New York. Privacy Policy. But the cameras lost sight of her because of heavy fog, making it impossible to know what happened. 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. But its possible theres not more you could have done. 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. This is perhaps the best argument for preventing suicide. Many self harm injuries, stitches. 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. "Together we will find Sydney and bring her home," her mother said. Any information could help so if you know anyone that was in that area around that time, please use contact information provided below. If all else fails do something drastic. I tried to help her, I really did Except I didnt. Its great to hear that things are going well for you now. In Mental Health circles there is a saying , that Sometimes suicide is inevitable. Or, at least, balanced! 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. 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. Her parents,Jay and Kimberly West,said their daughter liked visiting that bridge and would go to nearby Crissy Field to exercise. You can learn more about me here. What do you tell the ones who still perceive they have no one how do I get through to him? According to her family, a private investigator has followed up on dozens of. 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. 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. 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. Until then, that instinct may have been obscured by depression, stress, hopelessness or despair. what can I do. While at Berkeley she joined the rowing team and showed a strong interest in medicine, business, and biological science. Friends and family may rally to their side. I tried by drinking mosquito poison. Life really sucked and so did I. I blamed myself for everything that was wrong and then some. 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. 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. We will never recover from it. 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. Parenthood does not protect everyone, though. Saving Lives at the Golden Gate Bridge. Afterward, I was disgusted and angry. It would be logical to assume that being prevented from jumping merely delayed their death. West may have been wearing dark leggings, blue Vans shoes and a teal sweatshirt at the time of her disappearance. As the deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain draw attention to the public health crisis of depression and mental illness, Megyn Kelly TODAY welcomes Kevi. I lost my boyfriend to suicide two years ago and I have not been able to forgive myself. I am a survivor as well of rape and spousal abuse, Am feeling empowered today, thanks to you. This is certainly true for me: narcissistic mother and sister. Where Are They Now? What, Im supposed to carry on with the HOPE that things MIGHT get better. For Kevin Hines, the will to live kicked in immediately. 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. I have battled the thoughts of suicide for many years but after I had children those thoughts died. Your email address will not be published. . Cookie Notice Thanks for sharing your story here. 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. She was also seen wearing black shorts at times and may have been wearing glasses, said her father, Jay West. Confessed to my dad and got shipped to a hospital. Sydney West is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, but also grew up in the Pleasanton area. Lately, the suicidal thoughts have permeated my brain. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. God will come through for you but you have to make an attempt. 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. This Walking Pad treadmill made getting 10,000 steps a How to get tickets for Depeche Mode's new tour dates. For example, upon hearing me take total responsibility for the failure of my first marriage a gifted woman who is a counselor and pastor said, I typically find that both parties share responsibility equally. 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. 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. So there are many, many more medications and medication combinations that he can try. What % of those people were financially ruined (ie dead broke) with no job or no home? I recently lost a good friend to suicide. Come home.. She was last seen September 30, 2020, from the San Francisco area near the Golden Gate Bridge specifically around Crissy field. I still think about suicide, although not as often. Dayna. A. Turns out, it was a recording of Sydney singing. Also, on the Resources page, I list a number of websites and other resources for people who have lost someone to 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. Sydney West's parents confirmed she was last seen on the Golden Gate Bridge. Your pain matters. God Bless You. I will just speak it: Their lies destroyed me and there is no one on earth greater than you and those you love and want to protect. Sydney West never returned home, and has not been heard from since. So, I have two choices: Miraculously stop all self harm and suicide attempts, or have to make sure they are 100% successful, because I cant stand the thought of long term in patient. 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. "Jump." That's the word Kevin Hines heard in his head on September 25, 2000, as he stood on the Golden Gate Bridge. A missing person case has also been launched in Orange County, North Carolina, where West's family lives. The chances of surviving are less than 1.5%, and almost zero if the feet don't hit first. More often than not, the crisis passes. Since Sept. 30, there has been no activity on her phone or credit cards. I am very sorry for your loss. Your message here is a good one. 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. The. 18 I held a gun to my head in my backyard w my finger on the trigger. Especially when its an opinion so your both right. Thanks again for your thoughtful comment. 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 understand the battle with weight loss and a zillion other things but not suicide. And for most of those whose lives were saved, life goes on for many more years to come. But what if you dont want help? 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. 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. I use to hate her for wanting to leave me, got diagnosed w depression at 15 have done so many therapy sessions. I wanted to distance myself from it as much as I could so that people would leave me alone. Thank you for contributing to the discussion. 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. 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. He published the results in an article titled Where Are They Now? 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. Simply put unless you die the battle won or pain doesnt matter. West returned to the Bay Area for college at UC Berkeley after her family moved from Pleasanton to North Carolina several years ago. She took a ride-share service. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, and was last seen wearing a sweatshirt, dark-colored shorts and blue Vans sneakers. I guess I have started to realize its not my faultits no ones fault when a loved one commits suicide. Sydneyhas not used her phone, social media or bank accounts since she disappeared. YEAH? I live with a higher purpose now, but prior to my children I went through hell and constantly entertained the thought of killing myself. Ken Baldwin. 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. All clues so far, the family has revealed, have not been fruitful. 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. 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. Theres another post that might be helpful to you, too: You Cant Do Everything: Limitations in Helping a Suicidal Person. of the different medications. "Syd," as she liked to be called, was initially thought to have last been seen or heard from early the morning of September 30 in the Crissy Field area. The most intuitive reason is that suicidal crises are, by their nature, temporary. The corpse was pulled from the water by the Coast Guard a mile from the bridge 20 minutes later. Sydneys father believes that there is someone that may have seen something. 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. About his dads suicide, your article helping me a lot to help. Keep pushing on. "Jump." That's the word Kevin Hines heard in his head on September 25, 2000, as he stood on the Golden Gate Bridge. The San Francisco Police Department's tip line can be reached at 415-575-4444. Therapists and doctors may help provide relief. But the cameras lost sight of her because of heavy fog, making it impossible to know what happened toher. 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. Cameras on the Golden Gate Bridge recorded Sydney the morning of Sept. 30. She was last seen around 6:45 am when she was dropped off by a rideshare driver. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings. 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. They planned to reconvene in L.A. the following day to hatch a plan to monetize the footage. 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. Syd, Ive always loved you from the bottom of my heart, since the minute I saw your eyes open. 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Overall, a meta-analysis of numerous studies that looked at bridges suicide barriers found them to be effective. At this point, the instinct is what keeps me living. 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. She is 5 10 tall and weighs 130 pounds. I know there will be a lot of people out there who will think a certain thing happened to Sydney. This case has always stuck with me because I am in my 20s and suffer from anxiety and depression. 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. 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. Which will turn into the vicious cycle of no job= no money, and no money = no job. Lets get real here life sucks and its hard but dont give up. Trackback URL Dressed in a blue sweatshirt, leggings and Vans slip-on sneakers,. Its agonizing to lose someone you love to suicide, and you describe that agony very powerfully. Even so, bridge foreman Arthur Olson caught up with the stuntman as the crowd gathered, and grabbed him, but lost his grip, only succeeding in ripping free one of the harnesses. There were probably signs that you had a drinking problem from the very beginning. It was a startling revelation. I feel selfish but I feel like I still have to be brave for people because of their fear I might try again. 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). [This comment was edited, per the Comments Policy. 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 .. Dealing with the guilt is the hardest thing I have ever dealt with. Anyone with information is asked to call 415-575-4444. I once attributed that simply to having realized I wanted to live and (narrowly) surving my attempt. Has he tried cognitive behavior therapy? It was apparently very foggy that morning. I address the myth of inevitable suicide in this post. PART OF AUDACY NEWS. Maybe some of the posts on this site could be helpful to him? He had lost two fingers in a knife fight on the set of the movie "Scarface." I am resigned to staying alive until I die in some other way. 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 tragedy of suicide is indisputable. The details of your life will, of course, be different but we have our humanness in common. 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. He had a gun in the house that he never used, was trying to sell, I didnt even think of it during this time. Good luck to your friend, Julie, and thanks for commenting. 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. Horrified spectators screamed and mothers covered their childrens eyes as Chief Sundowns lifeless body bobbed under the bridge and out to sea. It is important to note that there has been no activity on her phone, bank accounts, or social media accounts since Sept. 30. 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 . / CBS San Francisco. Ive worked in Mental health, Ive lost a family member through suicide. I know you mean well, but I always feel I wished I never survived. News. r/redsox. I hate when people invalidate another persons pain by suggesting a suicide attempt wasnt a sincere result of suffering.