Threatened Suicides on Bridge Cause Disquiet

Published on May 9, 2009 by brooks | This story has been viewed 1,480 views

A middle aged man named Luo climbed to the top of Haizhu Bridge in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, on May 3 2009, asking for help to find his missing 4-year-old son. This was the eighth threatened suicide on the bridge in no more than 33 days.

Local residents resent threatened suicides

Since April 1, Haizhu Bridge at Guangzhou has witnessed 8 threatened suicides. According to a policeman involved in handling some of the incidents, all the 9 people involved had threatened to jump off the bridge in order to attract public attention to their private problems.

However, the seemingly endless series of threatened suicides have aroused resentment from the general public who formerly showed sympathy to these seekers after help. Mr. Li, a resident of Binjiang District, said he had quarreled with one of the bridge climbers because he was tired of being blocked on the road by traffic police due to suicide threats.

According to public security regulations, the bridge-climbers should be detained for 10 to 15 days for disrupting public order. However, some residents think the punishment is not severe enough to act as a deterrent.

According to a rough estimate, the 8 threatened suicides lasted for 13.5 hours in all, blocking around 48,000 commuters. For each incident, local government had to dispatch a rescue vessel with 6 water policemen, a fire engine with 10 fire fighters, an ambulance with a doctor and 2 nurses, as well as 20 to 30 traffic policemen and 10 local policemen.

Volunteers needed for psychological counseling

Wang Zechu, a counselor of the Guangdong provincial government, said the incidents reflected the widespread nature of social strain. Whether and how to solve the problems of the seekers for help could be determined step-by-step based on specific conditions, while precautions against threatened suicides should be a top priority.

Wang asked the departments concerned to deal appropriately with petitions from citizens so as to reduce attention-seeking behavior like threatened suicides. On the other hand, he suggested the media inform the public of the harm done by threatened suicides while providing care to those involved, and avoid encouraging such behavior.

Zhu Lieyu, a local lawyer, suggested the government establish more social and psychological counseling institutes and recruit more volunteers to help people in difficulties. Mr. Wang, a Guangzhou resident, suggested that the departments concerned should recruit volunteers and staff to patrol Zhuhai Bridge to prevent people from climbing the bridge.

Chronicle of Haizhu Bridge threatened suicides

April 1, a man climbed to the top of Haizhu Bridge carrying his infant daughter in order to ask help for his wife who had been a victim of a hit-and-run driver. The incident closed the north-south lane for more than an hour.

April 8, Tan, a man from Pingzhou Town, climbed to the top of the bridge because he had no other redress against his bullying boss. The incident closed both lanes for nearly 3 hours.

April 14, two brothers from Huizhou City climbed the bridge, causing a major traffic jam in the north-south lane. They demanded an explanation from departments concerned for the destruction of their 200 acres of fruit-bearing forest.

April 21, a middle aged man from Huadu District threatened to jump off the bridge as a result of livelihood problems, closing both lanes for 1.5 hours.

April 25, a man in a police uniform climbed onto the steel frame of Haizhu Bridge, closing the north-south lane. The man was talked down after 2 hours.

April 28, a man climbed onto the bridge due to a medical dispute, closing both lanes for 2 hours.

May 2, a man threatened to jump off Haizhu Bridge due to an unsatisfactory payment for the demolition of his house, causing a traffic jam lasting for more than an hour.

May 3, a middle-aged man climbed upon the top of Haizhu Bridge to publicize the case of his long-missing son, causing a traffic jam lasting 1.5 hours.

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