The Final Leap

One of modern engineering's most beautiful, and deadly, creations is San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. In this book, Bateson (executive director, Contra Costa Crisis Ctr.; Building Hope: Leadership in the Nonprofit World) advocates urgently for the erection of a suicide-prevention barrier at the world's most popular suicide site, whether it be a sufficiently tall railing, a safety net, or another alternative. Since 1937, some 1500 people have killed themselves by jumping the 220 feet from the bridge into icy, rocky, shark-infested waters. Bateson shares not only the stories of "jumpers" but also the grief of those left behind to mourn them. He also delves into the complex reasons for suicidal behavior. The appendixes pay tribute to the lives lost, listing victims' names and vital statistics. Bateson connects readers to resources such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-TALK), and the bibliography points to an additional wealth of resources, including interviews, studies, articles, books, websites, films, and more.