New York – The installation of suicide-prevention phones on the region’s Hudson River bridges could be completed within two weeks, the head of the state Bridge Authority says.
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Executive Director George Sinnott said there will four phones each on the Kingston-Rhinecliff, Rip Van Winkle and Bear Mountain bridges and at least four on the twin-span Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, at a total cost of $166,040. The Mid-Hudson Bridge already has suicide-prevention phones.
“We have most of the components,” Sinnott said. “We hope to have these things going within two weeks.”
The Bridge Authority unveiled the plans for the phones shortly after two people – a priest from Saratoga Springs and a woman from Staatsburg – committed suicide by jumping off the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge on back-to-back days in late December 2006.
So will the phones be at the top???
How about a sign saying that “Jumping of the bridge is strictly forbidden. Violaters will be subject to fine and procecution.”
actually the phones have been very successful in many places.
most people that consider suicide just want to be heard and understood.
and, it’s a lot scarier on the bridge than at home. sometimes the opportunity for communication needs to be in the right place.
o.gevald
it seems you dont understand
the phones are ther so they can call Shlomah Shamos and advise that that they are going to jump
And exactly what makes you think a person determined to commit suicide will stop and pick up the phone first? They had a phone at home too and that didn’t make them call first.