Argumentative Essay: The Golden Gate Suicide

Furthermore, “for someone in the throes of misery, it’s hard to overstate the romantic pull of this iconic bridge with its breathtaking views of one of the most beautiful cities in the world,” says (Marin County coroner) Ken Holmes” (Gross). It is such a magnet, “Everybody who jumps off the Golden Gate Bridge from the East Bay drives over the Bay Bridge to do it” “(Gross). This romantic notion of suicide may be compounded by the “magical thinking,” one contemplating suicide often experiences (Friend). “However, the reality is very different. When someone hits the water, they are traveling at 75 miles per hour, which causes “broken ribs, which rip inward and tear through the spleen, lungs and heart. The vertebrae snap and the liver often

However, “The majority were male (75%), Caucasian (78%) and, by marital status, unattached (77%), either single (55%) or divorced or widowed (22%). There were 10% (who were) military veterans... and more than 94% of the victims were California residents with 83% residing within the San Francisco Bay Area” (Atkins Whitmer). The victims have included attorneys, accountants, teachers, students, engineers, as well as “a county medical society president, a Lutheran pastor…the founder of Victoria’s Secret and the son of President Kennedy’s press secretary” (Blaustein). Furthermore “60% of the GGB victims had a known psychiatric disorder,” which was included, but not limited to “bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis, and depression” (Atkins Whitmer, Blaustein). “While depression is the most common cause of suicide, many jumpers act impulsively as a consequence of acute stress, shame, humiliation, rejection, or other trauma” (Blaustein). These are classified as “Nonpsychiatric factors (and) include duress due to legal or financial problems, despondency due to emotional upsets (divorce, custody problems, arguments, loss of employment), and medical problems such as chronic pain or terminal cancer”