Bob CollinsThere are still too many people who believe the myth that showing you this picture and talking about what’s happening will lead more people to want to jump from a bridge.
MPD’s Hostage Negotiator Saves a LifeThis afternoon at approximately 1:30 p.m. officers from the MPD responded to a…
Posted by Minneapolis Police Department on Tuesday, November 7, 2017
“I just started talking,” Sgt. Sara Metcalf tells KARE. “I told her that I’ve been through stressful situations and we all need a helping hand sometimes. So I gave her my hand and I told her today is not the day. I’m so thankful she took it.”
We can’t know — and we shouldn’t know — much more about the woman. She deserves privacy as she gets the help she needs.
That’s why in these stories, we tend to focus on the heroic people who intervene. It’s the only part of the story we’ve got.
But the missing element to this story and to all of the similar stories is the answer to the question: What leads people to the point where they think jumping off is the only solution? And what can we do to keep people from reaching that point?
In the comments of the MPD’s Facebook post, we get an answer from
Oyuka Ochirkhuyag, who volunteers that she was on the bridge two weeks ago.
I went through the exactly same thing 2 weeks ago, at the same bridge. The last post about cop saving a person from jumping was about me. I’m so thankful for the cop who saved me when I was preparing to jump. There was no talking me out of it, I was set on ending it all. I had already written goodbye notes for family. If that officer was few seconds late I wouldn’t be here. I’m so glad he was there. I was going through really bad mental breakdowns , withdrawals. I wasn’t thinking properly at all, I didn’t understand what I was about to do. I realized I was about to make permanent decision for temporary problem and I got help. I’m still working on my mental health, but I’m so much better now. I hope this lady gets help too.
