The Bridge
Thursday November 2, 2006
A new documentary called The Bridge is generating lots of attention. This movie, directed by Eric Steel, depicts people climbing over the railing of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and jumping to their deaths. The Bridge was filmed during most of 2004 using hidden cameras to capture multiple suicides. It also includes interviews with friends, family and witnesses who recount the jumpers' stories of depression, substance abuse and mental illness. The consensus among the reviews that I have read seems to be that it is both disturbing as well as though-provoking.
Why a documentary about suicides at the Golden Gate Bridge? Apparently this bridge is iconic as a suicide location. According to a feature called Lethal Beauty posted on the San Francisco Chronicle's website, 1,218 have died jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge and a 68 year debate still rages about installing a suicide barrier. Hopefully the attention generated by this documentary will create some sort of resolution to this decades old problem.
What do you think about this movie?
Comments
sure glad the bridw is not here because there would be more deaths. I speak for myself and others who suffer from sever depression and come from very abusive pasts that will not allow us to leave it behind
The poll speaks volumes on how little progress we have made on trying to understand the overwhelming need to commit this ultimate end to our unbearable suffering. I have come close to this several times in my life, but never attempted it, as I still had somethings to cling to, a good wife and great children. Although, I could not truly see that at my darkest moments and thought that I would be around to see their suffering. This material is desparately needed to bring more awareness to this potential fatal disorder.
I can’t view the trailer. It wants me to download QuickTime and spend $29.95!
Anyway, I think it’s an excellent thing, to get a discussion of suicide out into the open, so that it is not so “hush-hush” and taboo!
I thought about suicide 24/7, for 50 years! It was not until I was 54 years old, and finally got some help with my mood swings, and a dx of bipolar disorder (ultra rapid cycling) that, after a few years, this symptom went away. Prior to it mostly going away, I did learn it was “just a symptom,” and when the thoughts would come, I would think: “It’s just a symptom!” and it would not scare me.
But what really hurt was when I could not talk about it to anyone. Esp. not to a therapist, because I did not want to be sent to a hospital.
And you know what made me really angry? I had a trusted therapist and a trusted pdoc, early in my treatment at ages 54-55. They knew that I’d had these thoughts for 50 years. I told them I had never harmed myself, and never expected to do so for a lot of reasons — mainly because people depended on me, and also because I did not think it was a good idea spiritually. I did not know what I’d face “on the other side.”
So, they promised they would never send me to a hospital.
But last year, I got all my records from the clinic, long after this discussion (I’m 64 now, so ws 63 then.)
Turns out they were seriously considering putting me in the hospital against my will! They LIED TO ME.
So much for trusting public officials. They sure do practice appearing trustworthy.
flo