My son Kyle was only 18 when he took his own life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in September 2013. I still have no idea why he made that terrible decision. He had never been depressed, never mentioned suicide. It seems he decided to kill himself completely on impulse.

If the Golden Gate Bridge had a suicide prevention barrier, like other major bridges do, my son might still be alive today.

After my son died, I found out that the Golden Gate Bridge has more suicides than any landmark in the world. But unlike other landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge doesn’t have a life saving suicide prevention barrier to save people like my son from jumping to their deaths.

I started a petition on Change.org calling on the California Senate Budget Committee to approve funding for a suicide prevention barrier for the Golden Gate Bridge. Please sign my petition.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Kyle. He was just starting his senior year in high school, captain of the basketball team, planning on college. He had just gotten his passport for a trip to Australia after graduation. My son had excitements and hope in his life, and where does that go now? I still can’t believe he’s gone.

There’s a common misconception that people who attempt suicide once will just try again — that’s not true. In fact, one study showed that 94% of people who were talked down from the Golden Gate Bridge did not go on to kill themselves. If a barrier had been in place, my son could have been among that 94%.

It is appalling for California and America that the Golden Gate Bridge has more suicides than any landmark in the world. This is a problem that can be easily fixed, and lives will be saved as a result.

It is too late for my son, but if enough people sign my petition, I know we can help save someone else’s loved one. I know we can make sure no other family has to live through something like this.

Please sign my petition calling on the California Senate to approve funding for a suicide prevention barrier for the Golden Gate Bridge.

Thank you,

Kymberyrenee Gamboa
Fair Oaks, California