Substantial Changes Could Be Coming to Maine’s Biggest Bridges

It's something that we should all be thinking about in our daily lives. That 'something' is mental health. And while focusing on our own is critically important, remembering that there are others out there facing silent battles everyday is equally as important.

For those who don't know, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It's a month that is meant to remind us all of the silent struggles that millions of people across the country face on a daily basis. In addition, it's also a time to talk about advancing different programs in an effort to help the struggling.

One of the hardest things to talk about when it comes to mental health challenges, is suicide. And while it can be difficult to think or talk about, most of us have been affected by a suicide, or will be, in our lifetimes.

According to an article published by WGME 13, in just two weeks, three people have taken their own lives by jumping off bridges that connect Kittery and Portsmouth. The most recent was Monday morning when a young person jumped from the Piscataqua River Bridge, which is a staggering 135-foot drop.

Seacoast Mental Health Center played a key role in getting new suicide prevention signs put up on the Piscataqua River Bridge. But according to them, that’s just a start — the real goal is getting actual barriers in place.

Kelly Hartnett with Seacoast Mental Health told WGME in part,

“We’ve been looking at what they did with the Golden Gate Bridge out in San Francisco. They added signs, barriers, phones, the full package. And since then, suicides there have dropped significantly.”

Portsmouth Police Chief, Mark Newport, said in part,

"If we had the suicide barriers, obviously they'd work as a prevention tool that hopefully, may not stop all of them, but at least slow the attempts of people trying to get over the bridge"

So while many advocates and officials throughout Maine and New Hampshire see this as a good start, many say there is more that can be done, and more bridges that can be modified.

If you are someone you know is struggling with mental health, know that you are not alone and help is always nearby.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline