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
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