"It may be as simple as constructing barriers."
John replied:
"Here's the thing: dealing with the aesthetic symptom of suicide jumpers rather than even attempt to address the reason 'why' is a stop-gap measure at best. It's not, as the editorial states, a 'simple' solution. The majority of the jumpers in Greensboro have been people experiencing homelessness, so there are some serious underlying economic reasons (as well as mental health reasons) that these keep happening. Look, if barriers help the situation - fine. But in touting barriers over - say - mental health initiatives the city (and this paper's editorial board) are just participating in one of America's oldest and most despicable traditions: sweeping problems under the rug. Because in reading this editorial what I come away with is that it's not about saving lives, it's about not having to see (or admit) that there may be some deeper problems running through the most desperate residents of our city. And that, to me, is a pretty sad and a pretty ugly way to confront a mental health crisis."
Also of note, from the next paragraph of the N&R editorial:
"...barriers led to an immediate 86 percent reduction in suicides at the protected locations."
Key words: at the protected locations.
So instead they resort to walking out in front of a bus, suicide by cop, drug overdose... whatever, they still commit suicide but it's not a problem in Greensboro because it's out of sight and out of mind.
The N&R article continues:
“There was a 44 percent increase in jumping suicides per year at nearby sites,” the study’s abstract noted, indicating that some people who were determined to kill themselves by that means just found somewhere else to do it."
I guess the city will just have to put barriers around everything that's over say, 20 feet tall? 30 feet? 50 feet?
Meanwhile, Greensboro has done nothing to address a poverty rate above 20%, the highest unemployment in North Carolina and being the second hungriest city in America. Out of sight and out of mind.
Were it not for a good therapist I'd push a few politicians off some parking decks then jump to my own death. Those who jumped simply didn't have the resources I had. Thank you Shana, Lance and April, the Greensboro City Council owes their very lives to you and the work you do. Too bad you can't save everyone.
