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Councilors want parking garages to do more to keep people from jumping off them
By adamg on Wed, 01/29/2020 - 1:18pm
The Boston City Council will take a look at ways to reduce the number of people who jump off parking garages following several well publicized garage-related suicides.
City Councilor Ed Flynn (South Boston, South End, Chinatown, Downtown) said there are a number of steps he would want to look at to reduce the odds of "people in distress" being able to jump from the easily accessible locations, including not just fencing along higher garage levels, but cameras, signs with the number of a suicide hotline and putting in plantings to flat areas below the garages that might be attractive to people thinking of jumping.
Flynn added that any look at the issue needs to include figuring out how to increase access to mental-health services, so that they can get help before they make a decision to jump.
On Christmas day, a West Roxbury woman threw her two children and then herself off the top of a garage owned by Northeastern University - the same garage where a BC student killed himself in May, allegedly at the urging of his girlfriend. In between, a third person threw himself off the top of the garage. Northeastern has since closed off the top level.
Earlier this month, Boston Police officers grabbed a man before he could jump from the top of a garage on Guest Street in Brighton.
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 Flynn's request for a hearing | 111.72 KB |
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Comments
Simple solution
Ban cars, tear down the garages.
You're welcome.
It's a noble idea
Unfortunately people who are suicidal will just go somewhere else. It takes loved ones and people close to them to see the signs, and even then its difficult.
Not true. Research shows that
Not true. Research shows that taking away easily accessible means of suicide can deter many people from attempting. Obviously, if someone is very determined to kill themselves, they will find a way, but that's not the case with most suicidal people.
Facts
That is not borne out by the evidence
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Suicide...
This is a myth
Many suicide attempts are done with little planning when the person is in the depths of despair. Access to things such as guns, parking garage, pills, bridges, drugs, alcohol can increase the risk of a suicide attempt. And 9 out of 10 people who attempt suicide will not go on to attempt suicide at a later date. So restricting access to a parking garage on Tuesday does not mean the person will them try to jump off on Wednesday.
You're absolutely right that it's important for loved ones and family members to know the signs of suicide!
Not at all a surprise
that you're so cavalier about people grappling with suicidal thoughts. You'll pardon the rest of us if we do what we can to save lives without regard for your flippancy.
Cavalier?
You came away with that impression?
That's too bad because it wasnt my intent.
While they are at it
Could the Boston City Council study the problems of suicide and trespassing on the MBTA.
They should actually study
They should actually study the link between suicide and THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH
And while City Councilors are
And while City Councilors are at it, how having the railroads and the MBTA do more about keep people off railroad tracks.