I recently retired from the California Highway Patrol after 23 years of service. The majority of those 23 years was spent patrolling the southern end of Marin County, which includes the Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge is an iconic structure, known worldwide for its beautiful views of San Francisco, the Pacific Ocean, and its inspiring architecture.
Xubileime hai pouco da Patrulla de Estradas de California despois de 23 anos de servizo. A maior parte deses 23 anos paseinos patrullando o extremo sur do Condado de Marin, que inclúe a ponte Golden Gate. Esta ponte é unha estrutura icónica coñecida mundialmente polas súas belas vistas de San Francisco, do Océano Pacífico, e pola súa impoñente arquitectura.
Unfortunately, it is also a magnet for suicide, being one of the most utilized sites in the world. The Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937. Joseph Strauss, chief engineer in charge of building the bridge, was quoted as saying, "The bridge is practically suicide-proof. Suicide from the bridge is neither practical nor probable." But since its opening, over 1,600 people have leapt to their death from that bridge. Some believe that traveling between the two towers will lead you to another dimension -- this bridge has been romanticized as such — that the fall from that frees you from all your worries and grief, and the waters below will cleanse your soul.
Por desgraza, tamén é un imán para o suicidio, sendo un dos sitios máis utilizados do mundo. A ponte Golden Gate inaugurouse en 1937. Joseph Strauss, enxeñeiro xefe encargado da construción da ponte, dixo textualmente: "A ponte é a proba de suicidio. O suicidio dende a ponte non e nin práctico nin probable." Pero dende a súa inauguración, máis de 1.600 persoas brincaron cara á súa morte dende esta ponte. Algúns cren que viaxar entre as dúas torres levaraos a outra dimensión --ata tal punto se idealizou esta ponte-- que a caída dende ela libérate de todas as inquietudes e penas, e as augas de abaixo limparán a túa alma.
But let me tell you what actually occurs when the bridge is used as a means of suicide. After a free fall of four to five seconds, the body strikes the water at about 75 miles an hour. That impact shatters bones, some of which then puncture vital organs. Most die on impact. Those that don't generally flail in the water helplessly, and then drown. I don't think that those who contemplate this method of suicide realize how grisly a death that they will face. This is the cord. Except for around the two towers, there is 32 inches of steel paralleling the bridge. This is where most folks stand before taking their lives. I can tell you from experience that once the person is on that cord, and at their darkest time, it is very difficult to bring them back. I took this photo last year as this young woman spoke to an officer contemplating her life. I want to tell you very happily that we were successful that day in getting her back over the rail.
Pero deixádeme que vos diga qué ocorre de verdade cando a ponte se usa como medio de suicidio. Despois dunha caída libre de 4 ou 5 segundos, o corpo impacta contra a auga a máis ou menos 120 quilómetros por hora. O impacto esnaquiza os ósos, algúns dos cales perforan órganos vitais. A maioría morren no impacto. Os que non morren en xeral axítanse na auga con impotencia e despois afogan. Non creo que aqueles que contemplan este método de suicidio se dean conta da macabra morte que enfrontarán Este é o cable. Excepto arredor das dúas torres, hai 32 polgadas de ferro en paralelo á ponte. Aquí é onde a maioría da xente se pon antes de quitarse a vida. Podo dicirvos por experiencia que cando unha persoa está nese cable, e no seu momento máis escuro, é moi difícil traela de volta. Tirei esta foto o ano pasado mentres unha moza falaba cun policía reflexionando sobre a súa vida. Quero dicirvos con ledicia que ese día tivemos éxito en traela de volta á plataforma.
When I first began working on the bridge, we had no formal training. You struggled to funnel your way through these calls. This was not only a disservice to those contemplating suicide, but to the officers as well. We've come a long, long way since then. Now, veteran officers and psychologists train new officers.
Cando empecei a traballar na ponte, non tiñamos adestramento formal Loitabamos para canalizar estas chamadas. Isto non só era un mal servizo para quen contemplaba o suicidio, senón tamén para os axentes. Andamos un longo camiño dende aquela. Agora, policías veteranos e psicólogos adestran as novas xeracións de policías.
This is Jason Garber. I met Jason on July 22 of last year when I get received a call of a possible suicidal subject sitting on the cord near midspan. I responded, and when I arrived, I observed Jason speaking to a Golden Gate Bridge officer. Jason was just 32 years old and had flown out here from New Jersey. As a matter of fact, he had flown out here on two other occasions from New Jersey to attempt suicide on this bridge. After about an hour of speaking with Jason, he asked us if we knew the story of Pandora's box. Recalling your Greek mythology, Zeus created Pandora, and sent her down to Earth with a box, and told her, "Never, ever open that box." Well one day, curiosity got the better of Pandora, and she did open the box. Out flew plagues, sorrows, and all sorts of evils against man. The only good thing in the box was hope. Jason then asked us, "What happens when you open the box and hope isn't there?" He paused a few moments, leaned to his right, and was gone. This kind, intelligent young man from New Jersey had just committed suicide.
Este é Jason Garber. Coñecino o 22 de xullo do ano pasado ao recibir unha chamada sobre un posible suicida que estaba sentado no cable da arcada da ponte. Respondín, e cando cheguei, observei a Jason falando cun policía da ponte. Jason tiña só 32 anos e voara ata alí dende Nova Jersey. De feito, voara ata alí noutras dúas ocasións dende Nova Jersey para intentar suicidarse nesa ponte. Despois dunha hora falando con Jason, preguntounos se sabiamos a historia da caixa de Pandora. Lembrando a mitoloxía grega, Zeus creou a Pandora, e enviouna á Terra cunha caixa, e díxolle. "Xamais abras esta caixa." Pero un día, a curiosidade puido con Pandora, e abriu a caixa. Saíron para fóra pragas, penas, e todo tipo de maldades contra o ser humano. A única cousa boa da caixa era a esperanza. Jason despois preguntounos, "Que pasa cando abres a caixa e non hai esperanza? Calou por un momento, inclinouse cara á dereita, e desapareceu. Este amable e intelixente mozo de Nova Jersey acababa de suicidarse.
I spoke with Jason's parents that evening, and I suppose that, when I was speaking with them, that I didn't sound as if I was doing very well, because that very next day, their family rabbi called to check on me. Jason's parents had asked him to do so. The collateral damage of suicide affects so many people.
Falei cos pais de Jason esa tarde, e supoño que, mentres falaba con eles, non tiña pinta de atoparme ben, porque ó día seguinte, o rabino da súa familia chamoume para ver cómo estaba. Os pais de Jason pedíranllo. Os danos colaterais do suicidio afectan a moita xente.
I pose these questions to you: What would you do if your family member, friend or loved one was suicidal? What would you say? Would you know what to say? In my experience, it's not just the talking that you do, but the listening. Listen to understand. Don't argue, blame, or tell the person you know how they feel, because you probably don't. By just being there, you may just be the turning point that they need. If you think someone is suicidal, don't be afraid to confront them and ask the question. One way of asking them the question is like this: "Others in similar circumstances have thought about ending their life; have you had these thoughts?" Confronting the person head-on may just save their life and be the turning point for them. Some other signs to look for: hopelessness, believing that things are terrible and never going to get better; helplessness, believing that there is nothing that you can do about it; recent social withdrawal; and a loss of interest in life.
Fágovos estas preguntas: Que fariades se alguén da vosa familia, amigo ou ser querido fose un suicida? Que lle diriades? Saberiades que dicir? Na miña experiencia, non se trata só de falar, senón tamén de escoitar. Escoitar para entender. Non discutir, nin culpar, ou dicirlle á persoa que sabes como se sente, porque probablemente non o saibas. Pero simplemente estando alí, podes ser o punto de inflexión que precisa. Se cres que alguén pensa en suicidarse, non teñas medo de poñerte diante e preguntarlle. Unha maneira de facelo é: "Outros en circunstancias parecidas pensaron en terminar coa súa vida; tamén che pasou pola cabeza? Poñerte diante da persoa cara a cara pode salvar a súa vida. Algúns indicios que podes observar son: desesperación, que crean que as cousas son terribles e que nunca mellorarán; impotencia, que crean que non hai nada que poidan facer; illamento social recente; e perda de interese pola vida.
I came up with this talk just a couple of days ago, and I received an email from a lady that I'd like to read you her letter. She lost her son on January 19 of this year, and she wrote this me this email just a couple of days ago, and it's with her permission and blessing that I read this to you.
Elaborei esta charla hai uns poucos días, e recibín un correo dunha señora que me gustaría ler para vós. Perdeu ó seu fillo o 19 de xaneiro deste ano, e escribiume este correo hai uns días. e co seu permiso e bendición léovos isto.
"Hi, Kevin. I imagine you're at the TED Conference. That must be quite the experience to be there. I'm thinking I should go walk the bridge this weekend. Just wanted to drop you a note. Hope you get the word out to many people and they go home talking about it to their friends who tell their friends, etc. I'm still pretty numb, but noticing more moments of really realizing Mike isn't coming home. Mike was driving from Petaluma to San Francisco to watch the 49ers game with his father on January 19. He never made it there. I called Petaluma police and reported him missing that evening. The next morning, two officers came to my home and reported that Mike's car was down at the bridge. A witness had observed him jumping off the bridge at 1:58 p.m. the previous day. Thanks so much for standing up for those who may be only temporarily too weak to stand for themselves. Who hasn't been low before without suffering from a true mental illness? It shouldn't be so easy to end it. My prayers are with you for your fight. The GGB, Golden Gate Bridge, is supposed to be a passage across our beautiful bay, not a graveyard. Good luck this week. Vicky."
"Ola, Kevin, supoño que estás na Conferencia TED. Debe ser unha boa experiencia estar aí. Penso que debería pasear pola ponte esta fin de semana. Só quería deixarche unha nota. Espero que corras a voz a moita xente e vaian para a casa falándolles disto ós seus amigos, que llelo contarán ós seus amigos, etc. Aínda estou un pouco atordada, pero cada vez me dou máis conta de que en realidade Mike non vai volver á casa. Mike conducía dende Petaluma ata San Francisco para ver o partido dos 49ers co seu pai o 19 de xaneiro. Nunca chegou ao partido. Chamei á policía de Petaluma e denunciei a súa desaparición esa tarde. Ao día seguinte pola mañá, dous policías viñeron á miña casa e informáronme de que o coche de Mike estaba debaixo da ponte. Unha testemuña vírao saltar da ponte á 1:58 da tarde do día anterior. Moitas grazas por defender a aqueles que son temporalmente incapaces de defenderse por si mesmos. Quen non estivo nunca deprimido sen sufrir unha verdadeira enfermidade mental? Non debería ser tan fácil acabar coa vida. As miñas oracións están contigo na túa loita. A PGG, a ponte Golden Gate, suponse que é unha pasaxe sobre a nosa fermosa baía, non un cemiterio. Boa sorte esta semana. Vicky."
I can't imagine the courage it takes for her to go down to that bridge and walk the path that her son took that day, and also the courage just to carry on.
Non podo nin imaxinar a valentía que necesitou para ir ata a ponte e pasear polo camiño que o seu fillo fixo aquel día, nin a que precisa para proseguir.
I'd like to introduce you to a man I refer to as hope and courage. On March 11 of 2005, I responded to a radio call of a possible suicidal subject on the bridge sidewalk near the north tower. I rode my motorcycle down the sidewalk and observed this man, Kevin Berthia, standing on the sidewalk. When he saw me, he immediately traversed that pedestrian rail, and stood on that small pipe which goes around the tower. For the next hour and a half, I listened as Kevin spoke about his depression and hopelessness. Kevin decided on his own that day to come back over that rail and give life another chance. When Kevin came back over, I congratulated him. "This is a new beginning, a new life." But I asked him, "What was it that made you come back and give hope and life another chance?" And you know what he told me? He said, "You listened. You let me speak, and you just listened."
Gustaríame presentarvos un home ao que presento como exemplo de esperanza e valentía. O 11 de marzo de 2005, respondín unha chamada de radio dun posible caso de suicidio na plataforma da ponte cerca da torre norte. Fun coa miña moto pola plataforma e vin a este home, Kevin Berthia, parado nela. Cando me viu, cruzou decontado a vía peonil, e púxose de pé na pequena tubaxe que rodea a torre. Durante a seguinte hora e media, escoitei a Kevin mentres falaba da súa depresión e desesperanza. Kevin decidiu por si mesmo ese día regresar cara á plataforma e darlle á vida outra oportunidade. Cando Kevin regresou cara a atrás, feliciteino. "Este é un novo comezo, unha nova vida." Pero pregunteille, “Que fixo que volveras e lle deras á vida outra oportunidade? E sabedes que me dixo? "Escoitáchesme. Deixáchesme falar, e só escoitaches."
Shortly after this incident, I received a letter from Kevin's mother, and I have that letter with me, and I'd like to read it to you.
Pouco tempo despois deste incidente, recibín unha carta da nai de Kevin, e teño esa carta comigo, e gustaríame lérvola.
"Dear Mr. Briggs, Nothing will erase the events of March 11, but you are one of the reasons Kevin is still with us. I truly believe Kevin was crying out for help. He has been diagnosed with a mental illness for which he has been properly medicated. I adopted Kevin when he was only six months old, completely unaware of any hereditary traits, but, thank God, now we know. Kevin is straight, as he says. We truly thank God for you. Sincerely indebted to you, Narvella Berthia." And on the bottom she writes, "P.S. When I visited San Francisco General Hospital that evening, you were listed as the patient. Boy, did I have to straighten that one out."
"Querido Sr. Briggs, Nada borrará os sucesos do 11 de marzo, pero ti es unha das razóns polas que Kevin aínda está con nós Penso de verdade que Kevin estaba pedindo axuda a gritos. Diagnosticáranlle unha enfermidade mental da que o estaban medicando axeitadamente. Adoptei a Kevin cando só tiña seis meses, sen coñecer os seus trazos xenéticos, pero, grazas a Deus, agora coñecémolos. Kevin está ben, segundo el di. Dámoslle grazas a Deus por ti. En débeda sincera contigo, Narvella Berthia." E ao final ela escribe, "PD.- Cando visitei o Hospital Xeral de San Francisco esa tarde, eras ti o rexistrado como paciente. Meu Deus!, tiven que aclarar iso."
Today, Kevin is a loving father and contributing member of society. He speaks openly about the events that day and his depression in the hopes that his story will inspire others.
Hoxe, Kevin é un pai cariñoso e un membro activo da sociedade. Fala abertamente sobre o que pasou ese día e sobre a súa depresión coa esperanza de que a súa historia lle axude a outros.
Suicide is not just something I've encountered on the job. It's personal. My grandfather committed suicide by poisoning. That act, although ending his own pain, robbed me from ever getting to know him. This is what suicide does. For most suicidal folks, or those contemplating suicide, they wouldn't think of hurting another person. They just want their own pain to end. Typically, this is accomplished in just three ways: sleep, drugs or alcohol, or death. In my career, I've responded to and been involved in hundreds of mental illness and suicide calls around the bridge. Of those incidents I've been directly involved with, I've only lost two, but that's two too many. One was Jason. The other was a man I spoke to for about an hour. During that time, he shook my hand on three occasions. On that final handshake, he looked at me, and he said, "Kevin, I'm sorry, but I have to go." And he leapt. Horrible, absolutely horrible.
O suicidio non é algo co que só me enfrontei no traballo. Tamén é persoal. O meu avó suicidouse envelenándose. Ese acto, aínda que terminou coa súa dor, quitoume a oportunidade de coñecelo. Iso é o que fai o suicidio. A maioría das persoas suicidas, ou quen contempla suicidarse, non pensan en magoar a outra persoa. Só queren terminar coa súa propia dor. Normalmente, conségueno de tres maneiras: durmindo, con drogas ou alcohol, ou coa morte. Na miña carreira, respondín e vinme implicado en centos de chamadas vinculadas a enfermidades mentais e suicidio relacionadas coa ponte. Nos incidentes en que me impliquei directamente, só perdín a dúas persoas, pero dúas xa son demasiadas. Un foi Jason. O outro foi un home co que falei durante unha hora. Durante ese tempo, estreitoume a man ata tres veces. Na aperta de mans final, miroume, e díxome, "Kevin, síntoo, pero teño que marchar." E saltou. Espantoso, absolutamente espantoso.
I do want to tell you, though, the vast majority of folks that we do get to contact on that bridge do not commit suicide. Additionally, that very few who have jumped off the bridge and lived and can talk about it, that one to two percent, most of those folks have said that the second that they let go of that rail, they knew that they had made a mistake and they wanted to live. I tell people, the bridge not only connects Marin to San Francisco, but people together also. That connection, or bridge that we make, is something that each and every one of us should strive to do. Suicide is preventable. There is help. There is hope.
Quérovos dicir, non obstante, que a gran maioría das persoas coas que podemos contactar na ponte non se suicidan. Ademais, as poucas que saltaron da ponte e sobreviviron e poden falar sobre iso, ese un ou dous por cento, a maioría deles dixeron que no momento en que soltaron a plataforma, souberon que cometeran un erro e querían vivir. Eu dígolle á xente que a ponte non só conecta Marin e San Francisco, senón tamén a unhas persoas con outras. Esa conexión, ou a ponte que facemos, é algo que cada un de nós deberiamos esforzarnos por acadar. O suicidio pódese previr. Hai axuda. Hai esperanza.
Thank you very much.
Moitísimas grazas.
(Applause)
(Aplausos)