I can't be the only one growing increasingly alarmed by signs that those holding positions of power don't seem to actually understand how people work, right?
My daughter's high school, their student ID, the largest, biggest, boldest font of the entire id that clearly was the focal point was "thinking of suicide?, suicide hotline xxx-xxx-xxxx".
Nothing like constantly reminding angsty emotional teenagers of suicide any time they look at their student id
At some point you gotta just bite the bullet and build a giant net of suicide shame under the bridge. You can't fix or bargain for people's lives by purchasing some street level marketing space. If you don't want people jumping where they go to jump, you gotta build the jumper's equivalent of those anti homeless installations that keep bums from laying down in the best sleeping spots, and just take the option right out of their hands. They will find somewhere shittier to do it. I get that such installations are ugly and depressing, but hey, if people don't want that they can just keep the suicide bridge. Those are also ugly and depressing.
Based on the twitter replies it seems like they eventually went with that after the motivational posters obviously weren't working. A combination of suicide barriers and nets. Now only a few people try and they are all saved.
They've done that: put netting up to catch jumpers.
Drunken college boys would jump into them for laughs. Occasionally missing & plunging to their deaths too.
Ahh, like they have on Aircraft Carriers? (Which also work for people who get blown or stumble off).
But don't those only work because the crewman working on other duties pulls them off immediately? What's to keep people from jumping off the net without that?
At that point, they might be low enough that the landing in the water won't be fatal. I would have to check how high the bridge is.
Another option might be tall barbed wire fencing on the edges of the bridge. Still wouldn't be foolproof against someone obstinate enough who is willing to suicide himself while wearing thick padded clothes and mittens, but it'd still make it difficult enough to dissuade the majority of people, at the cost of being depressingly unaesthetic.
Suicidal people usually aren't very strong or physically apt, nor up to "overcome a challenge." So its probably not as stupid as it looks.
Most effective anti-suicide methods have been literally annoy or delay them long enough that they lose interest or energy and just go home. The same depressed state that made them suicidal makes them also unable to go through any real effort to do it.
That is honestly way more depressing than the words themselves have any right to be.
People are fucking weird, man.
Imagine wanting to kill yourself, and then deciding not to, because it was slightly too much work. I can't even envision it...but I also imagine you're completely correct.
Humans are still animals, which means survival is one of our strongest, most base instincts. Overcoming that requires an intense and powerful surge of strength and determination.
The kind that most people, but especially a depressed one, simply cannot summon nor maintain for very long. So you just need to wait or speed up burning it out.
Its why depressed people usually aren't the ones killing themselves. Their life is too banal to do anything. Its people who are angry that do it. Someone who finally just snaps from it all, rather than the slow burn of emptiness.
there are few things more depressing than things that are supposed to be happy, but are experienced in sadness.
A good example would be the holiday season for a lonely person. Everyone supposed to be happy, you are supposed to be happy, but you are miserable. All the happy music and festivus only amplifies the loneliness.
Posting pictures of generic happy people on a suicide bridge is horribly misguided.
You'd think the highest number of suicides would happen in November or something but I've read it's actually May. It's finally sunny and warm, everyone is out enjoying themselves and having fun but to suicidal people it's like rubbing it in.
Isn't this just advertising that this bridge is good for killing yourself?
No one cares that much about what the advertisements say but the fact that someone thought it required it means it is a highly effective place to kill yourself. What keeps people from offing themselves is that it's not easy, not without a gun. Pills are unreliable and hanging yourself is not fast enough, jumping of a bridge seems a better option as long as you don't risk surviving it.
In short: They built a bridge in Luxembourg over a small town in 1966, but didn't evacuate the people below. They then painted the bridge dull red, the colour of blood. :/ Over 100 suicides before this film forced the Gov't to actually try to stop the deaths. People could fall through roofs of occupied houses at any time night or day. Rather traumatic.
Probably not a good idea to remind the despondent and despaired of what they don't have and never will get.
Look at those smiling kids you’ll never have!
I can't be the only one growing increasingly alarmed by signs that those holding positions of power don't seem to actually understand how people work, right?
most people don't understand how people work
Especially when they are paid to ignore how they work
There certainly seems to be a consistent reminder that they see us all as numbers on a GPD graph, and literally cannot comprehend any further.
Probably been that way for a long time, but now they keep getting caught admitting to it.
Oh, they know. That's the point.
My daughter's high school, their student ID, the largest, biggest, boldest font of the entire id that clearly was the focal point was "thinking of suicide?, suicide hotline xxx-xxx-xxxx".
Nothing like constantly reminding angsty emotional teenagers of suicide any time they look at their student id
Rulers are generally out of touch when it comes to common folk. That is a timeless truth.
“Blow up the bridge, that will solve the suicide problem.”
"Just make suicide on bridges illegal"
His debate opponent from across the aisle.
Our leading party is too weak on crime! The death penalty for attempting suicide on the bridge!
"Close that bridge off and build an alternative one across the same river, going to the same place."
"This is going to bring many jobs and help the economy."
At some point you gotta just bite the bullet and build a giant net of suicide shame under the bridge. You can't fix or bargain for people's lives by purchasing some street level marketing space. If you don't want people jumping where they go to jump, you gotta build the jumper's equivalent of those anti homeless installations that keep bums from laying down in the best sleeping spots, and just take the option right out of their hands. They will find somewhere shittier to do it. I get that such installations are ugly and depressing, but hey, if people don't want that they can just keep the suicide bridge. Those are also ugly and depressing.
Based on the twitter replies it seems like they eventually went with that after the motivational posters obviously weren't working. A combination of suicide barriers and nets. Now only a few people try and they are all saved.
Put a trampoline at the bottom.
They've done that: put netting up to catch jumpers.
Drunken college boys would jump into them for laughs. Occasionally missing & plunging to their deaths too.
Ahh, like they have on Aircraft Carriers? (Which also work for people who get blown or stumble off).
But don't those only work because the crewman working on other duties pulls them off immediately? What's to keep people from jumping off the net without that?
At that point, they might be low enough that the landing in the water won't be fatal. I would have to check how high the bridge is.
Another option might be tall barbed wire fencing on the edges of the bridge. Still wouldn't be foolproof against someone obstinate enough who is willing to suicide himself while wearing thick padded clothes and mittens, but it'd still make it difficult enough to dissuade the majority of people, at the cost of being depressingly unaesthetic.
Check out the sweet patent drawing from their later attempt to curb suicide on the bridge.
https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.QTtJc6Y_E5Y4zHZ3eNlTVgHaDM
That just looks like a fucking challenge.
I suppose if I was suicidal, the adrenaline rush and feeling of triumph might make me feel better...might.
"Whooooo, I beat their retarded suicide-proofing, I feel so accomplished and purposeful now!"
Suicidal people usually aren't very strong or physically apt, nor up to "overcome a challenge." So its probably not as stupid as it looks.
Most effective anti-suicide methods have been literally annoy or delay them long enough that they lose interest or energy and just go home. The same depressed state that made them suicidal makes them also unable to go through any real effort to do it.
That is honestly way more depressing than the words themselves have any right to be.
People are fucking weird, man.
Imagine wanting to kill yourself, and then deciding not to, because it was slightly too much work. I can't even envision it...but I also imagine you're completely correct.
Humans are still animals, which means survival is one of our strongest, most base instincts. Overcoming that requires an intense and powerful surge of strength and determination.
The kind that most people, but especially a depressed one, simply cannot summon nor maintain for very long. So you just need to wait or speed up burning it out.
Its why depressed people usually aren't the ones killing themselves. Their life is too banal to do anything. Its people who are angry that do it. Someone who finally just snaps from it all, rather than the slow burn of emptiness.
I've often theorized this is why antidepressants cause suicides.
The chemicals aren't imbalanced, the procrastination depression causes is what is keeping them alive, just as intended.
Put them on antidepressants and its "I have a can do attitude about this moves crooked arm towards belly button in enthusiastic gesture"
Likely, most antidepressants that I've seen with people who claim that they are "working" just seem the same sad person, but way more energetic.
there are few things more depressing than things that are supposed to be happy, but are experienced in sadness.
A good example would be the holiday season for a lonely person. Everyone supposed to be happy, you are supposed to be happy, but you are miserable. All the happy music and festivus only amplifies the loneliness.
Posting pictures of generic happy people on a suicide bridge is horribly misguided.
You'd think the highest number of suicides would happen in November or something but I've read it's actually May. It's finally sunny and warm, everyone is out enjoying themselves and having fun but to suicidal people it's like rubbing it in.
Only monthly. On the daily-rate, Valentines and Christmas are all-stars.
SILENCE, BRAND! has never been more fitting.
I remember interviewing a depressed suicidal guy locked involuntarily on a Psych ward once.
I tried to talk him out of it for a while but in the end he convinced me.
just make it an anime plot where they get 1 free ticket (up to 100 bucks) to get sexy time from a e-girl or thot.
Isn't this just advertising that this bridge is good for killing yourself?
No one cares that much about what the advertisements say but the fact that someone thought it required it means it is a highly effective place to kill yourself. What keeps people from offing themselves is that it's not easy, not without a gun. Pills are unreliable and hanging yourself is not fast enough, jumping of a bridge seems a better option as long as you don't risk surviving it.
After reading this, ouch. There's "increase" and then there's "sixfold increase."
I'm not sure that having one of the photos of happy people, in the water, was going to send the right kind of message to depressed people.
Similarly, it is a known phenomenon that suicides increase about 20% after a TV character commits suicide.
Corpos and state trying to do a good thing by looking at the charts and lines:
People should check out the documentary "The Red Bridge" if they can find it.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0257005/
In short: They built a bridge in Luxembourg over a small town in 1966, but didn't evacuate the people below. They then painted the bridge dull red, the colour of blood. :/ Over 100 suicides before this film forced the Gov't to actually try to stop the deaths. People could fall through roofs of occupied houses at any time night or day. Rather traumatic.
EDIT: See also "The Sunshine Skyway Bridge" which used to be a hot spot for suicides. 318 deaths, 48 survivors.
Depressed, suicidal people do NOT want to have other people's happiness shoved into their faces.
Source: me.