Here’s why suicides have dropped dramatically on Tampa Bay’s Skyway Bridge
Editor’s note: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
For decades, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge has been one of Tampa Bay’s most iconic landmarks. But the 190-foot-high peak has also drawn hundreds of people wanting to take their own lives.
Most who have jumped from the top of the span have died. Each time, witnesses, first responders and loved ones are left traumatized.
Now, nearly a year since fences along the top of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge were completed, suicides there have decreased dramatically.
Since the fence was completed on June 23, 2021, there have been four people who have still managed to jump off the bridge and died. Ten people have jumped but did not die, while another 80 have threatened to jump during the same time period.
“It’s been an effective solution to help eliminate this problem,” Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Steve Gaskins told the Bradenton Herald.
Before the installation of the fence, suicides from the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge averaged 12-15 a year.
“There are many people who are struggling with their thoughts and feelings, and we encourage anyone who is struggling with thoughts of suicide to reach out for help,” said Ken Gibson, a spokesman with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.
The stainless steel, diamond-patterned safety fence is nearly 11-feet high. The fence extends on each side of the span, to where the bridge is only about 50 feet above the water.
Over the years, state agencies have done other things to prevent people from jumping off the bridge.
Six phones — that connect directly to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay’s suicide hotline — were installed in 1999 along the top of the span. Red signs also let people know that help is available, encouraging them to pick up one of the phones.
The Florida Highway Patrol also patrols the bridge 24/7 and cameras at the top of the bridge are monitored. Pedestrian and stopped-vehicle detectors were also installed in an effort to reduce response time when someone parks on the bridge.
May is designated Mental Health Awareness Month nationwide. As of 2019, suicide was the 10th-leading cause of death in the United States, claiming the lives of over 47,500 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For people in ages 10-24, it’s the second-leading cause, and ranks fourth for those 35-44.
In 2019, “there were nearly two and a half times as many suicides (47,511) in the United States as there were homicides (19,141),” the National Institute of Mental Health says on its website.
As part of a regular column, Manatee County District 4 Commissioner Misty Servia this week stressed the importance of mental health in our community.
“There is no shame in asking for help from a professional,” Servia said. “In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s all work together to remove the stigma of mental health challenges and silence the shame by acknowledging that life is hard and it’s okay to reach out for help during those hard moments.”