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About St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 16, 2015)
Page 4 * The St. Johns Review * #21 OCT. 16, 2015 Email: reviewnewspaper@gmail.com * Mail: PO Box 83068, Port. OR 97283 * Web: www.stjohnsreview.com * Phone: 503-283-5086 COMMUNIT New signs on St. Johns Bridge Continued from Page 1 By Barbara Quinn wind of the bay rushed at him as he dropped at about 75 mph—he knew an immediate truth: He did not want to die. “I wonder,” he said “how many others (from) that fall felt the same way?” And there are similar stories from other sur- vivors. Kevin is now in treatment for bipolar disorder. He takes his medication, works out regularly and makes sure to follow a disci- plined schedule of rest. He often thinks of the hundreds of others who took the same jump, and he wonders if they also begged God for life during the four-second drop. He feels an obligation to be their voice, their representative, and to share the desperate realiza- tion he guesses that they may have felt on the long drop. Hines says beyond whatever storm causes people to consid- er taking their own lives, there is something brighter, more pre- cious, a will to live stronger than any hope to die. He is here to say it. As one of the few who return, Hines often speaks publicly. His survival is considered a miracle, but the real miracle he said, is when he can help someone else, who might be standing at the edge. (Sean Kirst, Kevin Hines in Ful- ton: A survivor shares his 4-sec- ond epiphany on suicide, and the will to live, www.syracuse.com/ kirst/index.ssf/2013/09/post_539. html) As a result of the tragic death of Lisa Wright and in response to an inquiry for this article, the Ore- gon Department of Transportation agreed that signs will be placed on the St. Johns Bridge offering an emergency number for people ex- periencing crisis. It is a beginning at least, for our community to face the problem on the bridge. More interven- tion is needed and has been proven to help. In fact, according to a review of research by the Harvard School of Pub- lic Health, of those who attempt suicide only 7% will go on to die by self-inflict- ed means” (Christin McCurdy, The View from Vista Bridge, http://narrative.ly/ stories/the-view-from-vista-bridge). Help is available for community members struggling with a mental health crisis and/or suicidal thoughts. Suicide is preventable. The Multnomah County Mental Health Call Center is available 24 hours a day at 503-988-4888. If you or someone you know needs help with suicidal thoughts or is other- wise in an immediate mental health cri- sis, visit Cascadia or call 503-963-2575. Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare has an urgent walk-in clinic, open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Pay- ment is not necessary. Lines for Life is also available 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). UP holds Earthquake P When: Saturday, October 17 – 10- 5 Where: Univ. of Port Chiles Center The Info Fair at the University of Port- land will provide helpful information and resources to be ready for the next Cascadia earthquake. They will include the follow- ing: 1. Communications Plan – familiar com- munications outlets may be down for a while after a major earthquake, so having alternative methods for communicating with loved ones is important. Info Fair a t a s 2 w s h a r 3 t g 4 m e h 5 c 6 s a m 7 o e S t 8 f a m