A bridge too far?

OneWorld UK

By Daniel Nelson

MAY CONTAIN DISTURBING SUBJECT MATTER, says the advance publicity. And if watching people kill themselves is disturbing, the warning is right.

What I found disturbing at a preview of the film, The Bridge, was the mealy-mouthed defence by film buffs, who used weasel-words words such as problematic and suggested it was useful because it had lessons for other documentary film-makers.

The publicity provides another justification for the film (which opened in London on 16 February) that it offers glimpses into the darkest, and possibly most impenetrable corners of the human mind. Thats not true. The interviews with the families and friends of those filmed taking the four-second drop are engrossing and sometimes moving but they dont add to our knowledge of what drives people to suicide.

They show some of the responses including anger - that can be triggered in those left behind, but thats hardly a revelation.

San Franciscos Golden Gate bridge is the worlds top suicide spot and as a result of the film the authorities may erect a barrier to make it harder to leap. Apparently, they have resisted putting up a fence because it would spoil the look of the bridge.

Construction of a fence would be a good result, but filming suicides for a year in 2004 (when the death toll was 24) is surely not the only way of forcing a policy change.

The most dramatic testimony comes from a survivor, a young man who says that as soon as his fingers let go of the bridge rail he knew he wanted to live. He twisted his body position to avoid entering the water head-first and when swimming for his life under the water felt something brush his leg and thought: Oh no, Ive survived the leap only to be killed by a shark!

No-one in the preview audience, who seemed largely in favour of the film, which is often beautiful and not unduly sensational, used the argument that showing a man who chose life at almost the moment of death might be a justification for the documentary.

Conversely, no-one pointed out, as has Mike Jempson of MediaWise - who on 9 February spoke at a meeting in Newcastle on suicide and the media - that all the evidence over the last 150 years indicates that graphic representations of techniques and location of suicide increase the likeihood of imitation, or "media-related suicide contagion."

As an editorial in the British Medical Journal noted: "The impact of the media on suicidal behaviour seems to be most likely when a method of suicide is specified, especially when presented in detail, when the story is reported or portrayed dramatically and prominently, for example with photographs of the deceased or large headlines, and when suicides of celebrities are reported."

The suicide prevention organisation, Samaritans, agrees. Asked to comment, a spokesperson told OneWorld UK:

"Samaritans is aware that the film The Bridge is being shown and that it includes footage of people taking their own lives at San Francisco's
Golden Gate Bridge.

"Suicide is a legitimate topic for serious discussion in the media, like other mental health issues. However, the presentation of it should only be done with great care.

"The weight of evidence indicates a clear connection between certain types of media representation and imitative behaviour. Around 6% of suicides are 'copycat' suicides - the person has 'chosen' the means of death from seeing it in the media.

"We therefore criticise the showing of this film, and the makers for their reported methods of obtaining their footage. We do not accept that this is an 'art' film and therefore justified.

"Our media guidelines state that: certain types of media coverage are potentially harmful and can act as a catalyst to influence the behaviour of people who are already vulnerable.

"The guidelines also express concern about showing 'easily obtainable' means of death including jumping from a high place, and point out that it's very dangerous to provide details of a suicide method as this can provide a vulnerable person with the knowledge they need to complete a suicide.

"Samaritans' submission on evidence concerning 'copycat' suicides was recently acknowledged by the Press Complaints Commission, and their Code of Conduct now carries a warning clause against using excessive detail of a method of suicide. Samaritans' guidelines were launched in 1994 and were the first available in the UK. They are based on academic research from the UK and overseas, combined with the experience of Samaritans and journalists touched by the issue of suicide.

"Samaritans is aiming to show its current advertising campaign, 'Things on Your Mind', in cinemas showing The Bridge and is placing information postcards in cinemas, bars and clubs.

"Samaritans is here 24/7 to anyone needing confidential, non-judgemental emotional support on 08457 90 90 90 in the UK or 1850 60 90 90 in the Republic of Ireland or jo@samaritans.org."

* The Bridge, ICA, The Mall, SW1, 16 February-22 March
* MediaWise: Suicide and the Media
* Media Guidelines for Suicide Reporting
* Samaritans
* Papyrus (Prevention of Young Suicide)