City leaders unveil suicide prevention signs
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland city leaders unveiled new signs that they hope will prevent suicides in our area.
The signs will be placed near area bridges over the next few months. They read “we can help you cross this bridge” and list the phone numbers people can call if they are having suicidal thoughts and feel like they need help.
“They can actually speak with counselors who are compassionate, knowledgeable and can help them walk through the difficulties they’re experiencing,” said Judy Cushing, CEO of Lines for Life.
The numbers to call are 1-800-SUICIDE and (503) 972-3456, which is a new local line.
“When people call our lines they can talk for any amount of time,” Cushing said. “If they need to talk for an hour, they can talk for an hour.”
City leaders said Wednesday that suicide calls have nearly doubled in the last 10 years. Factors that police and Lines for Life mentioned included the weather and recession.
“There are so many people, some of it driven by economic issues, others by an addiction or mental health issues. And it is I think tragic to see so many people in crisis,” said Portland Police Chief Mike Reese.
A sign is already in place near Portland’s Vista Bridge.
Another objective of the new suicide line is to prevent people from calling 9-1-1 when they are having a mental crisis.
“We know that there is more that we can do to de-escalate encounters with people in these situations. Matching people in need with professionals best equipped to handle these scenarios is a first-but-important step,” said Mayor Sam Adams.
“With my background as a psychiatric nurse, I know the importance of having trained call-takers counseling people contemplating suicide,” said Commissioner Amanda Fritz. “This partnership with Lines for Life will assist both people who are in mental crisis and those concerned about them. By diverting calls away from 9-1-1, it will reduce the number of interactions with police officers.”
"We can help you cross this bridge."--the double meaning...just...thank you. <3
Thank you for running this story and thank you City of Portland for creating these thoughtful signs. Â
What these signs address is the fact that people often visit a site many times before they actually choose to end their lives. Â These signs acknowledge the difficult time the person may be having and invite them to seek help.
First of all the headline is a lie, there are no city leaders currently. Second, this appears to be an April 1st joke on September 19th. Third, this has to be the pinnacle of idiocracy. Next they will be installing exploding nets kind of like airbags on a car so when someone jumps the net will just pop open and catch them. Nothing like treating the symptom but not the problem. And why is it that people are so disenfranchised with government?Â
A more beneficial effort would be if they put up those alternating red lights like they do a freeway entrances so that when people do jump they can avoid cross traffic. Perhaps to they could have a concession stand at both ends that sells human size Ziploc baggies for quicker cleanup.
Perhaps a bungee cord so jumpers can have a trial run.Â
How about a phone mid-bridge that goes directly to 911, no that wouldn't work they always put you on hold.
Perhaps they could put a city revenue guy mid-bridge and explain to any would-be jumpers there is a tax that must be paid up front in cash and the city could own the automatic teller machines at both ends.Â
Definitely they should put up the forms for organ donating right there in mid-bridge and when they sign they get one of those big human sized Ziploc baggies for free.Â
For a little comic relief they could put a target at the bottom with the words painted around the edges that say no screem zone and have four guys off to the side to hold up cards with numbers one through 10 rating the dive.Â
Maybe they could put a little video right at the railing mid-bridge with Vera Katz saying if I can live with this face you can live with your problem then all they have to clean up his vomit.
Gosh. I feel sad. I think I'll kill myself. Oh look! A sign! Well I'll just scratch that last idea!
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Who even thinks this junk up? Oh... the city of Portland... never mind.
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What happens if the bridge is open for river traffic?
Just don't call 911.
It seems to me that Suicide by Cop is much more popular than jumping off bridges in Portland. Maybe we should put signs on the Police. What would the signs say? I think Mark Kpic has the correct idea, fund the outreach programs.
....because we all know that someone bent on suicide by jumping from a bridge is going to take the time to read the small print underneath a clever-wordplay bold print sign.Â
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Wonder how much money city of Portland spent on the development, and will spend on the posting of these things?Â
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Suicide is bad, I get that. And someone trained to speak with someone contemplating suicide can (often) keep them from doing it. Statistically speaking, what percentage of people who commit suicide each year in Portland do so by jumping from a bridge?Â
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Wouldn't it be exponentially more fiscally prudent to donate that money to outreach programs and suicide prevention hotlines?Â
 @MarkKpic Well, maybe.  But then again, I don't know the suicide prevention hotline number by heart - do you?  I'd have to look at one of these new signs.  Signage is cheap compared to what they could have done, such as installing barriers or other physical restraints. Â
 @Festivus  @MarkKpic 911 operators can (in most areas) connect callers directly to suicide prevention councilors.Â
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>'Â Signage is cheap compared to what they could have done, such as installing barriers or other physical restraints. Â '
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That assumes that there was a dramatic need for either option.Â
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Again, I'd be really curious as to what the percentage of people is in the PMA who commit suicide by jumping (specifically) off of these bridges is vs buildings, non signed bridges, or by other means.Â
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Make no mistake here, I do believe that outreach to emotionally distressed people is a good thing. What I question is the logic of the expense of very limited availible capitol on such a limited project. Again, wouldn't the money be better spent by donating it to crisis councilor call centers, or mental health facillities?
"Give a Hoot, Don't Jump"
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or instead of "Caution: Suicidal Dog Crossing" change to human
Leave it to Portland to put a pun in the suicide prevention sign. I mean, what if the persons legs give out mid-way, are they going to get carried to the other side?
I think "Litter and it will hurt" would have been better.
As if anyone who is going to commit suicide is going to have a phone with them.
I would have written "If you jump from this bridge it will hurt a lot" instead of "We can help you cross this bridge".