Every year, 20 or more families in the Bay Area are ripped apart by suicide from the Golden Gate Bridge. Many emotions surround this experience – anger, pain, and the nagging “what if” questions that haunt many of the loved ones of suicide victims. But bridge suicides have one additional tragic element—almost all are preventable.

In April 2006 Althea provided seed capital for an initiative that would educate the public and conduct research about the construction of a safety barrier (suicide prevention rail) on the Golden Gate Bridge. In addition to providing seed capital we actively supported the formation of the Bridge Rail Foundation by helping to develop its mission, strategic plan, website and formation of a board which now includes individuals who have had family and friends jump from the bridge and experts in mental health, law and public affairs.

On Friday 11th October 2008, the board of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District voted 14-1 in favor or a Stainless-steel netting to be placed beneath the Golden Gate Bridge to catch would-be suicide jumpers.

http://www.bridgerail.org/