Suicide attempts decline with Skyway Bridge barriers

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge, linking Pinellas and Manatee counties, is notorious as one of the country’s worst suicide destinations, as hundreds of people have historically jumped from its roadway – 200 feet above the waters of Tampa Bay. Newly installed steel netting fences on the bridge are significantly cutting those numbers. 

“The fencing has been an effective deterrent to those wishing to harm themselves along the iconic span,” Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Gaskins said in a statement to the St. Pete Catalyst. 

The $3.4 million, 11-foot-high “Skyway Vertical Net” installation was completed in 2021. The barrier runs along a mile-and-a-half stretch of the five-mile contiguous bridge. 

From June 23, 2021, when the fence was completed, through May 25, 2022, 11 people attempted to commit suicide but were interdicted beforehand and did not jump. Three suicides did occur – two were people who jumped, while another person was found in the rest area. There were a total of 80 suicide threats, according to the data collected by FHP.

Prior to the introduction of the fences, the bridge – erected in 1987 – would draw an average of over a dozen suicides a year. 

“FDOT [Florida Department of Transportation] is pleased the fencing on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge is proving to be an effective suicide deterrent. Along with the crisis phones which connect to suicide prevention staff, Florida Highway Patrol coverage, and cameras all along the bridge, these items are making a difference. FDOT has also implemented pedestrian and stopped vehicle detectors to reduce response time when motorists park on the bridge,” an FDOT spokeswoman said in a statement. 

The phones located on the bridge, which were installed years before the fences, connect directly to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay’s suicide hotline. Red signs can also be seen informing people that help is available. 

“Any time you can put a suicide barrier – whether it’s a gun lock or lock on a medicine box – those are helpful, but they don’t solve the issue. We have such a long way to go,” said Clara Reynolds, CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.

“The barriers don’t remove someone’s desire,” Reynolds said, explaining that while the physical barriers cause hesitation, there’s an ongoing need for more mental health resources to be implemented in the community.

“Suicide is 100% preventable, yet it is still an epidemic. We haven’t seen a slowdown,” she said. “When people get to a place where they feel hopeless, they need to know where to turn. The hardest part of this journey is picking up the phone and asking for help.” 

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Reynolds said prior to the rise of the vertical fences, the center would receive roughly a dozen calls from people contemplating suicide on the bridge; however, since the installation, the center hasn’t received any calls from the bridge. 

While the fencing has proven to be highly successful, Reynolds wants to remind the public that suicide threats are prevalent throughout the region, and the Covid-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the numbers as many people lose their jobs and family members due to Covid along with evictions. 

“We want to have more opportunities to say it’s okay to not be okay. We are seeing more virtual mental health clinics rise, and by calling the crisis center, we can provide some immediate short-term relief,” Reynolds said, adding that the negative stigma attached to utilizing mental health resources is still intact and needs to change, and employers should continue to offer confidential employee assistance programs. 

For immediate support, people can dial 211 to reach the crisis center or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (tel:18002738255). Or text to 741-741.