Suicide Watch

Well, I guess the Cold Spring Bridge isn't all that special after all. Can we have our $3.5 million back, please?

40 years of statistics are more reliable than your guesses, K. It wasn't long ago that the anti-barrier people were quibbling with the data and arguing that less than one suicide per year happened at Cold Spring... now we've had 8 in 2 years. The bridge is an attractive nuisance... build the barrier, and remember, something like $40 million is spent every year on public mental health services in the County; the Cold Spring barrier amounts to something like $100,000/year over its lifetime.

Suicide will happen... and the bridge has NOTHING to do with it. This story really illustrates that people who have decided to die will do it. It sickens me that someone dove head first off the Granada parking garage, how much more public and traumatic can you get? I feel sad for anyone that was exposed to that idiot!

The economy is rough right now and not many people aren't effected, especially now that the credit card companies are hiking interest rates for even those that have never paid late or gone over their limit. Not just that but they are reducing available credit for card payers, thereby reducing their credit rating AND making it harder for them to stay below the limit with the new interest rates. It IS depressing, especially if you were financially good a few years ago and now you are suddenly, and without changing your spending habits, in debt up to your ears. Sound familiar? Not to mention there aren't many jobs.... certainly doesn't help that locals are hiring people from OUT OF TOWN to do work for them, like build houses.... even the city is doing that, hiring NON locals for city projects. It is disgusting. Makes me feel like jumping too! But I won't do it...

The problem is not the bridge, suicide happens when people have had more than they can handle. Again, this story really illustrates the various ways that people are ending their lives. Unfortunately they don't have the statistics about OD's because I imagine that the number would be MUCH higher... overdose is the least scary and least messy way to go.

Perhaps if we had universal health care he would not be penniless and dead.

That is so sad to hear. Bergmann was indeed one of the early SoCal beach volleyball pioneer. I think he used to play with another legen, Ron Von Hagen. They helped make the game what it is today, even before guys like Sinjin Smith and our own Karch Kiraly were getting media attention.

I agree with taz, only in countries like the USA could this happen. In other industrialized nations, they don't allow their citizens to become destitute when they have serious health problems. Really says something American values.

Poor Henry has been troubled for decades, long removed from his past volleyball glories when he was King of the Beach.

I watched Bergmann and his various partners dominate the itinerant beach volleyball scene in the early '70s, and remember an East Beach Final vs. Von Hagen that literally lasted 2 1/2 hours, almost running out of sunlight.

Although Bergmann was rarely uncrowned on East Beach, and for a decade or more a stunning edifice in the local sands, he did not take to the new circuit developing in the '70s, and as a consequence never became as well known as Gene Selznick, Ron Lang, Mike O’Hara and Ron Von Hagen and other contemporaries.

One notable exception is in 1970, the first Hermosa Beach tournament occurred, and Ron Von Hagen and partner Henry Bergman win the inaugural title.

My lifelong love of volleyball was kick-started by a class I took from Bergmann at his peak down on East Beach. He (softly) spoke of commitment, effort, and dedication, but mainly taught by thrilling example. The man was a perfect physical specimen, who left behind his average stature with an outstanding vertical leap, a bull-whip arm-swing, and a sixth sense for the game. Watching him closely, Bergmann seemed to never sink in the sand.

Sadly, at least 20 years ago I began seeing a down-trodden, ill-kept Bergmann pacing up and down State Street, muttering to himself. I heard various rumors of '70s-era excess and bad habits, but never got the full story.

RIP Henry.

Since suicides of all types are apparently increasing, the fact that suicides are also increasing on the Cold Spring Bridge is totally unsurprising.

Again, the bridge is nothing special, except to those that have a stake in fencing it in.

Name another spot in the County where at least 49 deaths have all occurred within 100 meters of each other since 1964, that is not a hospital, hospice, or site of a natural disaster like La Conchita, the Painted Cave Fire, ship disasters, etc.

Cold Spring Bridge is special, no doubt about it.

LOL. Name another spot in the county with at least one death on a Monday, when it was overcast, that was in an RV with Oklahoma plates, that wasn't due to an overdose of cheez whiz.

Hey, I noticed Winbills posted at EdHat just 2 minutes before you posted here. Coincidence?

Thank you to all remembering Henry. My brother and I shagged balls many times on the East Beach courts. Henry was not like a lot of the VBers in that he was so quiet. His body was so cut and he had that leap you mentioned. I'll bet we sat around the same court at dusk waiting for some of those matches to conclude - with SB guy Henry winning! No one can touch him now. No more pain, man. Peace to you.

Exactly. Suicide is a personal choice. A barrier will not prevent it.

I grew up in Pasadena. The most beautiful bridge was "suicide bridge"!

People still find a way to jump off of it!

A ridiculous waste of money to make a bridge ugly so people don't jump off it!

They will find another way to kill themselves if that is what they want to do.

Think I am insensitive? My dearly loved stepfather committed suicide, I found him in our garage with several cars running on my way to school. 8th grade.

Penelope

Yeah, sevendolphins that's genius...Let's put up a wall on the bridge so when they jump it gives them another extra 10 feet to plummet to their death! You can't control human nature with a fence or wall. Do you remember Berlin? If you think that's a good idea go work for the government where you can waste some more of our money.

There is an abundant lack of knowledge about suicide and some of these ignorant comments support this. Contact the Glendon non-profit and learn something about suicide.

I am appalled at the idea that suicide is going to happen regardless of what we do. That is just plain wrong!!!

Try to be a little friendlier to anyone in dire straits and share some love and caring with anyone you know or even don't know, who may appear to be angry, feel helpless, lost, or overwhelmed by circumstances. You can prevent suicides, the smallest gesture, even a smile, can make a difference.
My friends, we are our sisters and brothers keepers, it is a difficult world and we all have our "dark nights of the soul". Depression is treatable and has a very good prognosis. It can be a learning and growth experience.

Care at a hospice place with supportive people is a far better way to deal with terminal illness, I am open to assisted death in very limited situations.

No person should go bankrupt over illness or mental/emotional problems.

No one should ever die alone and uncared for.

And we certainly can't have "ugly bridges," dammit.

I mildly chided 7dolfins in another "Man Shoots Self" comment thread, but he and I are decidedly on the same page as far as wanting terribly to "uglify bridges everywhere" because, goshdarnit, there are just way too many way too cute spans about!

Suicide Bridge in Pasadena is not a "beautiful bridge."
It's old, historic, and rather decrepit in visage. Hardly a hot babe of a bridge.

Sorry your stepfather did what he did so young in your life, but that hardly qualifies you as being handed the "Righteously Sensitive" award. On this issue, quite the contrary---as you come off as being bitter, hardened, and laden with some unresolved issues.

When money mean$ more than live$, you $imply lo$e me in that cent$-le$$ illogic.

Oh, and please accept my condolences for the willful passing of Henry Bergmann. From what I've read, he was a singular and well-loved man.

ptt, the Glendon Association is a collection of well-meaning but scientifically illiterate New Age therapists. They can't even comprehend the scientific literature in the field in which they claim expertise.

If someone is determined enough to drive all the way up to Cold Springs Bridge to kill themselves it stands to reason that they will find another way to do so should the barrier go up.

Let's focus on how the death rate by suicide is increasing instead of throwing money at barriers.

It is truly sad that medical bills caused this man to take his life.

How many of you go to church that profess goodwill towards others - then turn around and deny health-care reform?

C'mon people. Make a change for the better.

At least sbmale and taz are striking at the root. If more people thought like them, perhaps less people would be killing themselves. As their posts illustrate, merely addressing symptoms isn't enough.

"If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is going to stop him/her."

Not True. Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feelings about death, and most waver until the very last moment between wanting to live and wanting to die. Most suicidal people do not want to die; they want the pain to stop. The impulse to end it all, however overpowering, does not last forever.

Source: SAVE, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education

Perhaps the barrier will give someone enough time to reconsider. . .

I have been personally affected by suicide and know that it is one of the worst things that can happen to friends and family. The lack of knowledge and awareness about suicide are a huge problem. There are ALWAYS other options and help available, no matter how desperate you might feel. If you or someone you know are depressed or considering suicide, please know that there is an abundance of help out there. Please seek out help, because suicide hurts so many people.

Call the free 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Free 24-hour local services are also available. Contact CARES/ ACCESS at 1-888-868-1649 or the SAFTY Mobile Crisis Team/ Hotline at 1-888-334-2777.