Golden Gate Bridge Suicides - Overview

For years, the Golden Gate Bridge was the top suicide site in the world. Since it opened, there has been more than over 2,000 deaths there--1800 confirmed suicides. Many deaths are declared as unconfirmed because no body was recovered in the often turbulent waters below.

In October 2008, the Golden Gate Bridge District board took the first important step to stop suicides at the bridge. After studying several barrier designs including raising the four-foot railing, the board finally approved the building of a Suicide Deterrent Net on the bridge. This vote was preceded by extensive public input from people who had lost family members to bridge. They were joined by researchers who understood what suicide prevention advocates had known since the 1960’s. The hearing concluded with testimony from the Marin Coroner, with the up-to-date body count. It was the first time in history that a majority of board members voted in favor of any physical structure to stop suicides in 70 years.  The work to design and engineer, and receive funding for the actual Suicide Deterrent Net was still needed. The design plans needed to come first and required several years.

To secure the funding and needed approvals California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano,  Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, and Senator Dianne Feinstein were key players who help to make the net a reality. Senator Barbara Boxer secured changes in federal legislation to ensure transportation construction funds could be used for suicide  prevention structures on the bridge. Architectural and engineering plans were finally completed, and the project went out to bid. Following a competitive bid process the Bridge District awarded the construction contract in January of 2017. The motion to accept the low bid was made by a bridge director whose grandson had died by bridge suicide just months earlier.