The ongoing survival of people who attempt suicide is not (always) inevitable. Especially when its an opinion so your both right. Also Live Through This website has beautiful portraits (photographic but also in prose) of people who survived a suicide attempt. I know there will be a lot of people out there who will think a certain thing happened to Sydney. You can read more about this at http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c4447. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. 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 inherited two guns from my Dad, and I will take possession of them this month. My passion for helping suicidal people stems from my own lived experience with suicidality and suicide loss. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings. There are far more narcissistic dads and men than there are women and mothers. 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. Anyone with information is asked to call 415-575-4444. 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. Lets get real here life sucks and its hard but dont give up. Your battle won matters. The family of Sydney West is offering a $25,000 reward for her return. Except that my fiance was making me depressed because he wouldnt move in with me again like how we were living together before. I am a survivor as well of rape and spousal abuse, Am feeling empowered today, thanks to you. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Also, on the Resources page, I list a number of websites and other resources for people who have lost someone to suicide. 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. Challenges, extreme challenges. Sydney Kaitlyn West, 19, was last seen near the Golden Gate Bridge around 6:45 a.m. on September 30, 2020. In Mental Health circles there is a saying , that Sometimes suicide is inevitable. The tragedy of suicide is indisputable. I woke up on my own after my first attempt. Cameras on the Golden Gate Bridge recorded Sydney the morning of Sept. 30. I hate when people invalidate another persons pain by suggesting a suicide attempt wasnt a sincere result of suffering. Michael Horan at 415-553-1028 or the family's private investigator at 925-705-8328. Those two have shown some effectiveness at reducing suicidal ideation and behavior. There were probably signs that you had a drinking problem from the very beginning. It was a startling revelation. I love the analogy with weight loss. He had lost two fingers in a knife fight on the set of the movie "Scarface." Holidays and milestones come and go while we continue to feelSydney's absence continuously. At the time, a made for TV movie, named Silence of the Heart came out. Sydneyhas light brown hair and blue eyes. 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. I guess I have started to realize its not my faultits no ones fault when a loved one commits suicide. Others need to respect the decision. Getting through them is the way to make your life your own again.. Say someone wants to die by suicideso badly that they go to the Golden Gate Bridge to jump off. And there ended Rhodes four-years-in-the-making attempt to wow crowds and find fame by jumping from the bridge into the bay. 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. Enter your email address to receive notifications by email of new posts. This is perhaps the best argument for preventing suicide. She vanished without a trace from San Francisco, California, near the Golden Gate Bridge, a popular tourist spot for many. "No detail is too small," said her mother, Kimberly West. She grew up in Pleasanton, CA and then moved to Chapel Hill, NC with her family during high school. My reason to live is so I dont hurt people who care but what if you have no one who cares there was a time I had no one it was only my stupidity that got the hospital aware of my attempt. Afterward, I was disgusted and angry. In 2000, he actually did jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. Required fields are marked *. I was determined and had written a detailed letter with instructions for the police and family. SF]. 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. Privacy Policy. Its unfair. Thank you for contributing to the discussion. Her parents thanked others for the love and support, and asked people to continue spreading the word by sharing photos and memories of their daughter on social media. I feel if I constantly feel like this over the years why dont I just die now? 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. Sydney West's parents confirmed she was last seen on the Golden Gate Bridge. He says he fully expected to speak with her the next day and became very worried when she didnt return multiple calls from him. Sydney is considered at risk due to depression, said SFPD Officer Robert Rueca to KRON4. I understand completely. 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). It may help,, Kind Regards, (felt good to be honest for once). Lately, the suicidal thoughts have permeated my brain. You can find a life worth living, too, if you set your mind to finding solutions. / CBS San Francisco. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. San Francisco Police have previously said the teenager "is considered at risk due to depression." I pray tonight. Thank you for providing this site. For more information, click here. Peace be with you Steven. 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 four-second fall from the Golden Gate Bridge sends a person plunging 245 feet (75 m) at 75 miles per hour (121 km/h) to . Another possibility is that the instinct to live kicks in once someone comes close to dying. 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. After all, they were intent on dying. 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. 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. "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. It is also possible she was wearing eyeglasses instead of contact lenses. She was struggling with depression for years. SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) The family of a UC Berkeley freshman who disappeared last September has offered a $10,000 reward for information in connection with the case. Copyright 2013 Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW, All Rights Reserved. Sure if youve got someone/s to bail you out after your attempt, yeah youve got a reason to live. Has left me pretty much bankrupt and not willing to live. Try convincing someone like me that life is worth it. 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 would bet that most, if not all, had narcissistic mothers. She attempted suicide three times and was in mental hospitals, etc. Camera footage has been reviewed and interviews have been conducted among West's friends and acquaintances, but there are no leads. what can I do. Reach out to someone, anyone because I can tell you they have no idea how you feel. I cant tell you how much of what you write touches me in some way. Part of Audacy. Thanks again for your thoughtful comment. Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). She was said to be very close with her family. Edit: FAQs https://findsydneywest.com/faq, https://www.pollyklaas.org/missing-children/sydney-west/, 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/. At the age of 19, Kevin Hines attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, an all-too-common act that nearly always results in death. Video footage from the bridge has been carefully reviewed by investigators but due to foggy and smoky conditions camera views where obstructed making it impossible to tell her exact location on the bridge. Any information could help so if you know anyone that was in that area around that time, please use contact information provided below. And its been a long term plan, for 35 years, but become refined in that time. 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. 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. I just need time to tidy up affairs, belongings, finances, assemble the plan. 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. She was last seen wearing a light teal hoodie, dark leggings, and slip-on vans sneakers with dark green and black print. His father had died by suicide and even though I knew all of this, I couldnt see the forest through the trees. Sydney Kaitlyn West, 19, was last seen near the Golden Gate Bridge around 6:45 a.m. on September 30, 2020. How Parents Can Support a Child With Suicidal Thoughts, Suicide Survivor Stories Empowered Me to Live, How Ive Survived and Thrived with Suicidal Thoughts, A Personal Note to Readers of Speaking of Suicide, Helping the Suicidal Person: Tips and Techniques for Professionals, psychotherapist and consultant in private practice. I just hope that one day her family will get answers. They understand the battle with weight loss and a zillion other things but not suicide. I just read your post. I am very sorry for your loss. My overdose gave me seizures. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Found it was in part due to hormone imbalance along with sugar imbalances, throw in that its winter along with little sleep, emotional bombs going off and I had the perfect storm. What happens is if you dont kill yourself you spend the rest of your life being told you didnt mean it. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. She was a student at Donlon Elementary and Hart Middle schools and attended Foothill High School for her freshman and sophomore years. She was, for a period of time, carrying a black backpack that she frequently used to get around town. 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. If you want to talk with someone immediately by phone, text, or chat, please check out the Resources page. As a teenager, I related so closely and had so many mixed emotions in comparing the results of my vs the characters attempts. 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%). Has he tried cognitive behavior therapy? 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. How many of the survivors were so injured by the attempt that they were unable to complete the act? I saw him hit the water like a bullet, said his wife. Her Disappearance: Sydney West was a 19-year-old freshman at U.C. Its sad how much youve suffered, and its inspirational how differently you feel right now. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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. Well living isnt what its cracked up to be. 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 story of Kevin Hines demonstrates the clarity that can finally appear when someones life is on the line. 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). The details of your life will, of course, be different but we have our humanness in common. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Suicide Deterrent System, also known as the Safety Net, is being constructed to keep people from jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Many self harm injuries, stitches. That's a mind-blowing statement. He already had refused to get help or to stop drinking. The corpse was pulled from the water by the Coast Guard a mile from the bridge 20 minutes later. I am so glad my attempt did not end in my death. Here I thought I just occasionally drank too much. You note that installation of a suicide barrier at the Bloor Viaduct in Toronto merely caused people to go to other locations in Toronto to die by suicide. But as long as your solution is to kill yourself , you wont see them even if theyre right in front of you. Thank you for sharing, Stacy. She had moved in with friends in San Francisco, where she was living when she disappeared. I find myself returning to that time in my life and wondering if this is the way Im supposed to go, or if the survival instinct will continue to win. Leads continue to come in, her parents said. Everything says Get help. I knew then that I would never try it again. Ive worked in Mental health, Ive lost a family member through suicide. 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. These findings are consistent with other studies that have looked at method substitution, which can occur when one suicide method is made unavailable and people substitute it with another. Youve been through an enormous amount. User account menu. Have you read Whats In the Way Is the Way by Mary OMalley? I address the myth of inevitable suicide in this post. 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. But in reality, he cant know what the future holds. Anyone with information about Sydneys whereabouts is asked to contact private investigator Scott Dudek by texting or calling 925-705-8328. Obviously, I failed. YEAH? Sydneys father believes that there is someone that may have seen something. While at Berkeley she joined the rowing team and showed a strong interest in medicine, business, and biological science. Sydneyhas not used her phone, social media or bank accounts since she disappeared. Maybe some of the posts on this site could be helpful to him? It certainly sounds like your friends antidepressants are not working. At this point, the instinct is what keeps me living. So it is with anything else, including suicidal thoughts. Life really sucked and so did I. I blamed myself for everything that was wrong and then some. I just got out two days ago. 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. I was driving toward the Hoover Dam bypass bridge from Memphis over 4 years ago to jump off. This is certainly true for me: narcissistic mother and sister. One desperate and hurt person to another. A. 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. Dear Anthony, [feb.6.2019 @9.26am]. Children are a major reason for living for many people who battle suicidal thoughts. Will I Be Committed to a Mental Hospital if I Tell a Therapist about my Suicidal Thoughts? It would be logical to assume that being prevented from jumping merely delayed their death. January 25, 2021 / 11:03 AM When I woke up a day later, my depression had greatly improved. You can learn more about me here. At times I hate myself. West took a rideshare service to the Golden Gate Bridge; the driver cooperated with San Francisco police and is not believed to be a suspect. Your email address will not be published. How could I have been so stupid? Now I dont know if I can fight it, but coping with failure and constant depression is impossible. The. Im here. 10 Reasons Teens Avoid Telling Parents about Suicidal Thoughts. Thanks for sharing your story here. After he was rescued, he continued to live, and lives still, serving as a suicide prevention advocate at the national level. Interviews with jump survivors and potential jumpers . The memoir Half in Love: Surviving the Legacy of Suicide captures very well, to a painful degree, how someone who deeply loves their children can simultaneously feel pulled to end her life. 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. Hello Tony, so sorry for my belated response. Ken Baldwin. The longitude and latitude for the Bridge location is approximately: N 37 Degrees, 49 Minutes, 8.0 Seconds --- W 122 Degrees, 28 Minutes, 40.6 Seconds. That is so sad, Julie. She was carrying a black backpack and her light brown hair was pulled back into a bun.