The Golden Gate Bridge is among the most powerful suicide magnets in the world and though solid evidence shows that suicide barriers save lives, bridge officials have yet to erect a barrier–in part because of public myths about the issue. For example, the public is divided over spending tax money on people “who will just go somewhere else.” This sentiment persists against all the evidence. I sought to dismantle myths about barriers and confront the stigma of suicide, including the notion that suicide is an issue of free will rather than a public health issue. I did this by bringing personal experience to bear on Golden Gate Bridge suicides.
