did sydney west jump off the golden gate bridge
There are many people with children whose pain or distorted thinking overrides all else, in spite of their best wishes. Me and my childrens life broke into pieces and our life will never be the same. This site continues to distract me from my suicidal thoughts. I know you mean well, but I always feel I wished I never survived. Rhodes was the 90th person to jump to their death from the bridge in its short 11 year history, but the first who wanted to survive. 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. There is not much known about the day Sydney disappeared. I am a suicide survivor from India. Dusty thought he could do the same but let everyone see it, and so employed the services of his pal, Hollywood cameraman Jose Guzman, to capture the jump on film. Each. This is certainly true for me: narcissistic mother and sister. So in a couple days with no vehicle no money and no job, Im just supposed to trudge on, because life is precious or whatever other placating device people Banty about? Your email address will not be published. West was born in Walnut Creek and lived briefly in Castro Valley before her family moved to Pleasanton. I wonder what psychotherapy he has tried. This Walking Pad treadmill made getting 10,000 steps a How to get tickets for Depeche Mode's new tour dates. The ongoing survival of people who attempt suicide is not (always) inevitable. Same with divorce. Another possibility is that the instinct to live kicks in once someone comes close to dying. Im not sure that preventing suicide is such a noble act. 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. Try convincing someone like me that life is worth it. Sydneyhas light brown hair and blue eyes. She had moved in with friends in San Francisco, where she was living when she disappeared. Its a really simple concept. I fantasize a lot about suicide. As the deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain draw attention to the public health crisis of depression and mental illness, Megyn Kelly TODAY welcomes Kevi. You might think that, once freed from the authority figures who prevented their suicide on the bridge, they still went on to by suicide. September 30, 2020 was the last time anyone saw or heard from 19-year-old Sydney West. As of 2013, it is estimated that 34 people have survived after jumping. Dayna. 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. 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. Thank you for reaching out to Joan and offering your support. 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. How many of the survivors were so injured by the attempt that they were unable to complete the act? In fact, the increase in suicides at other locations in Toronto did not make up for the dramatic decrease in suicides at the viaduct itself. When I will be talking to him, also sure helps me to see I am suicide attempt survivor. The entire bridge in covered with CCTV cameras monitored 24/7, and footage is retained for 6 months as it is federal land and monitored by Homeland Security. My mother battled w depression I watched her battle hard all my life and still. Why Prevent Suicide? Her family is not giving up hope that she is still alive and remains determined to find her. I recently lost a good friend to suicide. A jump off the Golden Gate Bridge takes around four seconds, during which a person will reach a speed of 80 mph before smashing into the water's surface like concrete. Copyright 2013 Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW, All Rights Reserved. Case Contact Information: SFPD at 415-575-444 or text TIP411 (Start your message with SFPD) Or contact: private investigator Scott Dudek at 925-705-8328 or dudek.associates@gmail.com, *there is a reward for information that leads to her location and return, For more info: https://findsydneywest.com/ Facebook: Find Sydney West Instagram @find_sydney_west Polly Klaas Foundation: https://www.pollyklaas.org/missing-children/sydney-west/, Sources: 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/. Youve been through an enormous amount. West returned to the Bay Area for college at UC Berkeley after her family moved from Pleasanton to North Carolina several years ago. I hope that he is able to get effective help, both psychologically and pharmaceutically. Thanks again for your thoughtful comment. Note: I wanted to make this post to hopefully create some sort of discussion around the case since it was almost a year and a half ago. They have a good, nonjudgmental, and supportive discussions at ChronicSuicideSupport.com/forum/. She was last seen in the area around 6:45 a.m. Email: joshua.bote@sfgate.com and Signal: 707-742-3756, Six months after student's disappearance in San Francisco, family continues search, Horoscope for Saturday, 3/04/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Snowboarder dies at Tahoe ski resort following historic blizzard, West I-80 closed near Tahoe due to snow and 'multiple spinouts', Wife of Jeffrey Vandergrift issues somber update, Even Salesforces tower HQ isnt safe from office cuts, Inside Harry and Meghans favorite In-N-Out, Horoscope for Friday, 3/03/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Massive Lake Tahoe waterfront compound slashes price by $20M, This beloved East Bay hybrid cafe and bike shop is closing, Ja Morant says he'll get help after video shows apparent gun. "We know that there was a lot of pedestrian, car and bicycle traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge the morning Sydney disappeared. Therapists and doctors may help provide relief. SFGATE news editor Amy Graff contributed to this report. Thats why I searched for answers and I found this site. I saw the signs, the depression, his feelings of hopelessness, but somehow its easier to see the signs after it happens and not while you are in the throes of this emotional rollercoaster. A $25,000 reward is being offered for anyone who has information that leads to her return. It is always wonderful to hear from someone who made it out to the other side. It was apparently very foggy that morning. Everything says Get help. I hope you will read it and take its words to heart. 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. He published the results in an article titled Where Are They Now? Have had lots of therapy after that. The footage taken by Guzman didn't make the news, but was watched by a small, select group: the San Francisco coroners jury, which quickly ruled a case of accidental death from drowning a week later. 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. That is no way to live, but that is the reality. My brother did the same in 2002. ive suffered depression for Years, 2 suicide attempts in 2008. Anyone with information about Sydneys whereabouts is asked to contact private investigator Scott Dudek by texting or calling 925-705-8328. But then they are stopped from jumping. It amazes me that the vast majority of suicides are by men, and virtually all of the articles about it are by women. But in reality, he cant know what the future holds. Here Are My Reasons. Growing up Sydney was described as a sweet and goofy girl who wasnt afraid of being herself. Maybe in order to evade authorities who had refused permission to allow the jump legally 18 months earlier, he removed the weighted boots that were intended to keep him upright during the plunge. Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Golden Gate lacks a suicide barrier . Im sorry to hear about all the pain youve been through. 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. 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. Her Disappearance: Sydney West was a 19-year-old freshman at U.C. A narcissistic parent doesnt cause suicide, either lifes problems do or mental illness does. . I am so very grateful now to be alive and I hope to find ways to assist others going through the deep abyss that can sometimes take over your entire being take another breath, and another. I interviewed her parents.https://t.co/tiBGM53NZz pic.twitter.com/lvHh2cCrZg. The Golden Gate Bridge, which first opened in May 1937, was the most popular suicide site in the world during the documentary's filming, with approximately 1,200 deaths by 2003. Part of Audacy. A jump off the Golden Gate Bridge takes around four seconds, during which a person will reach a speed of 80 mphbefore smashing into the water's surface like concrete. You can find a life worth living, too, if you set your mind to finding solutions. Also Live Through This website has beautiful portraits (photographic but also in prose) of people who survived a suicide attempt. And they did for the Hollywood stuntmans attempt to sail off the Golden Gate Bridge on Feb. 6, 1948. Sydney Kaitlyn West, 19, was last seen near the Golden Gate Bridge around 6:45 a.m. on September 30, 2020. Rhodes had been seeking fame all his life, and successfully became one of Hollywoods first stuntmen, appearing in movies such as "Under Arizona Skies" and "Duel in the Sun," in which he performed a cliff jump. West was last seen on the Golden Gate Bridge onSept. 30, 2020 just before 7 a.m., according to the San Francisco Police Department. When I woke up a day later, my depression had greatly improved. Andrew has written for The Atlantic, Vice, SF Weekly, the San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney's, The Bold Italic, Drowned in Sound and many other places. The details of your life will, of course, be different but we have our humanness in common. Come home.. 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. He grew up in the Los Angeles area, went to UC Berkeley and has previously worked as a news reporter at USA Today and SFGATE and as a music writer at NPR. He now works daily, and diligently, to manage continued symptoms that can include depression and hearing voices. The sad thing is that, as I say in my letter, some of what your friend thinks and believes may actually be true, but his mind is probably also shutting him out of other truths that could balance out his pain. 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. Any information could help so if you know anyone that was in that area around that time, please use contact information provided below. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. I think it could be helpful to you. Im recommending this because of your sense that you could have stopped the suicide from happening if you hadnt been so stupid, as you so painfully put it. You might be helped by connecting with other people who have attempted suicide and can understand not only what can lead a person to do that, but also what comes after. My passion for helping suicidal people stems from my own lived experience with suicidality and suicide loss. Good luck to your friend, Julie, and thanks for commenting. She was said to be very close with her family. Additionally, Hines takes medication and . Leads continue to come in, her parents said. Being a freshman and isolated on campus due to the COVID pandemic was hard for West, her family said. Sure if youve got someone/s to bail you out after your attempt, yeah youve got a reason to live. The attempt was no cry for help. Lorraine Rhodes was destitute, and asked Show Folks of America to help pay for the funeral, which they did. Others need to respect the decision. Horrified spectators screamed and mothers covered their childrens eyes as Chief Sundowns lifeless body bobbed under the bridge and out to sea. Suicide needs to be addressed from many angles, of which means restriction is only one. 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). Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Ive been hospitalized 4 times in the past 6 weeks, after my 9th suicide attempt. West was in the Bay Area to take summer classes at UC Berkeley; she was supposed to enter school in the fall, but due to a concussion she sustained and classes being held remotely, she opted to defer for another year but stayed in California with family friends. Has he tried cognitive behavior therapy? Upon its completion in 1937, it was the tallest and longest suspension bridge in the world. In the midst of a struggle with mental illness, Hines got a running start . For example, upon hearing me take total responsibility for the failure of my first marriage a gifted woman who is a counselor and pastor said, I typically find that both parties share responsibility equally. And half of people who die by suicide had attempted suicide at least once previously. : The Fate of Suicide Attempt Survivors, A Follow-up Study of Suicide Attempters from. "On Aug. 20, 1985, I jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge, and I survived." Ken Baldwin was 28 years old and had just started a family. Challenges, extreme challenges. I also knew that there was no hope whatsoever for what was wrong with me. Thank you. Some die instantly from internal injuries, while others . Sydney West was last seen near the Golden Gate Bridge in the early morning hours of Sept. 30, walking near Crissy Field. She is an amazing musician. Whether ones anchor to life is children or some other passion, it is a gift to have a reason for living that outweighs suicidal thoughts. The 265-foot plunge off the most famous bridge in the world was right in his wheelhouse, until it wasnt. She was, for a period of time, carrying a black backpack that she frequently used to get around town. Generally, research into method substitution has found that blocking access to a suicide method results in fewer suicides overall, even when taking into consideration those suicides by people who found other ways to die. I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. Had medical intervention on the second. His passing causes lots of pain, sadness and changed others lives entirely. SF]. 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). This is a terribly hard process, and I hope that youre able to get help and support from others. While in Australia she started blogging about beginning to experience bouts of depression on top of her anxiety. ChiMaxx, thank you for writing and for raising important points in your comment. 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. Its always women telling men what we should be. They understand the battle with weight loss and a zillion other things but not suicide. The Golden Gate net project is like putting a bandaid on an ulcer. Joshua Bote is the tech editor at SFGATE. This is perhaps the best argument for preventing suicide. Especially when its an opinion so your both right. My overdose gave me seizures. You can read more about this at http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c4447. Sydney West's parents confirmed she was last seen on the Golden Gate Bridge. The man who tried to find fame by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, Horoscope for Saturday, 3/04/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Snowboarder dies at Tahoe ski resort following historic blizzard, West I-80 closed near Tahoe due to snow and 'multiple spinouts', Wife of Jeffrey Vandergrift issues somber update, Even Salesforces tower HQ isnt safe from office cuts, Inside Harry and Meghans favorite In-N-Out, Horoscope for Friday, 3/03/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Massive Lake Tahoe waterfront compound slashes price by $20M, This beloved East Bay hybrid cafe and bike shop is closing, Ja Morant says he'll get help after video shows apparent gun. It was in 1984. In the midst of a struggle with mental illness, Hines got a running start . January 25, 2021 / 11:03 AM The decision collapsed Rhodes sister's claim that her brother was murdered as cameraman Guzman should have been in a boat to pull her brother out of the water. 2023 Audacy, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. We cannot overlook that 10% of people who survive a suicide attempt do go on to die by suicide. I wonder if you might benefit from talking with like-minded folks at ChronicSuicideSupport.com. She attempted suicide three times and was in mental hospitals, etc. Her Disappearance: Sydney West was a 19-year-old freshman at U.C. I hear you. If I make it, Ill have publicity and be on my way, Rhodes told a friend who later testified at the coroners inquest. Once her gap year was over, she moved back to California decided to attend U.C. Its sad how much youve suffered, and its inspirational how differently you feel right now. She tried to take her life when I was 12. Perfectly so. 2023 Audacy, Inc. All rights reserved. PART OF AUDACY NEWS. She struggled with being so far away from her parents and sister, who reside in North Carolina. 18 I held a gun to my head in my backyard w my finger on the trigger. East Bay Wine & Whimsy (Metaphysical Market), Before & After Photos Show CA's Snowpack, Reservoirs After Storms, Best Bay Area Sandwiches + Stranded Hiker Rescued: Saturday Smiles, Sprawling Estates, Suburban Dreams: 11 Featured Bay Area Homes, Berkeley Police Warn Of Vehicle Theft Rise, The Poop On Free-Range Cats And Your Lawn And Garden [Block Talk]. A vigil was held last week for West in Pleasanton. For Kevin Hines, the will to live kicked in immediately. And now I have the means to do it. What do you tell the ones who still perceive they have no one how do I get through to him? 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 . It was a serious, intentional attempt to end my own life. Female Representation In The Tech And Startup World: UC Berkeley, Berkeley Asks Residents To Provide Input On Wildfire Response, American Tulip Day & Free, U-Pick-Tulips 2023: Union Square, San Francisco, Rotary Club's Drive-Thru Crab & Pasta Feed 2023: Orinda. 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. And for most of those whose lives were saved, life goes on for many more years to come. Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge suicide net, a coarse web of steel designed to catch and cradle people who jump, is two years behind . In Mental Health circles there is a saying , that Sometimes suicide is inevitable. Children are a major reason for living for many people who battle suicidal thoughts. Afterward, I was disgusted and angry. YEAH? West, 19, disappeared on a foggy San Francisco morning, around 6:45 a.m. to 7 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 on the Golden Gate Bridge. "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. This is perhaps why only one of Rhodes' three small parachutes opened, doing nothing to slow him down. I love to see that in the Comments section; I find it beautiful when people can connect in this way and, even more, when someone can tell another person what they havent believed for themselves. But I have. Dialectical behavior therapy? I mean how long can I go ahead. I address the myth of inevitable suicide in this post. [This comment was edited to abide by the Comments Policy. Suicide isnt an option, keep telling yourself that. I tried to commit suicide when I was 18. Also, on the Resources page, I list a number of websites and other resources for people who have lost someone to suicide. This is perhaps the best argument for preventing suicide. Hello Tony, so sorry for my belated response. America feeds narcissistic women because their joy is in materialistic consumption, the backbone of this country that once believed life had a higher purpose. I know there will be a lot of people out there who will think a certain thing happened to Sydney. She was last seen wearing a light teal hoodie, dark leggings, and slip-on vans sneakers with dark green and black print. But the other day I told him that and now hes moving in with me again so my life is going good again! 19-year-old Sydney West was last seen Sept. 30. Tears ago, when my children were younger, I actually reached a point where I went beyond imagining the trauma and lifelong suffering, to my children; such was my pain. Millions of eyes are going to locate her better than 20 sets, Jay West said. A view of the Golden Gate Bridge with San Francisco behind it in January 1947. 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. Its death toll has since been surpassed only by the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge in China.. I once attributed that simply to having realized I wanted to live and (narrowly) surving my attempt. Footage in the area, according to a website the family recently set up in light of her disappearance, was blocked by fog and morning haze. 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. Peace be with you Steven. I know how hard it is. Im sorry to hear of your loss She was a student at Donlon Elementary and Hart Middle schools and attended Foothill High School for her freshman and sophomore years. Turns out, it was a recording of Sydney singing. The West family has also upped its reward for her return to $25,000. Dont believe anyone who tells you differently. 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. "Folks that have seen anything that resembles Sydney, we really want to collect information.". But its possible theres not more you could have done. I knew then that I would never try it again. They are doing a med wash and released me with no meds, and actually said if I come back, I will be admitted long term.