Kingsport police believe a woman lost her life early Friday morning when she jumped from a Tri-Cities bridge into the water below. Around 4:30 am, drivers on Interstate 81 in Kingsport called police, reporting a woman sitting on the guardrail of the bridge over Fort Patrick Henry Lake with her feet dangling over the side. After searching for hours, rescue crews recovered what they believe to be the adult woman's body just before noon.
Although investigators aren't ruling out other causes of death, they believe the woman's death was a suicide. It's generally our policy to avoid covering suicides, but this death sheds some light on a real problem in our society, which we can't ignore. Rescue crews at the scene told us the woman in this case threatened to kill herself before. Experts say in nearly every suicide, there is some kind of warning sign. However, Frontier Health Senior Vice President for Speciality Services Dr. Randy Jessee says often times, family members and friends don't take those warning signs seriously.
"We are very private and very few people, even in close relationships, often in marriages, they don't know each other, and that is problematic," Jessee said.
At the Frontier Health Crisis Center, therapists take calls from 1,200 people a month. 24 hours a day, seven days a week, those therapists are available to talk to people in need. Jessee says all people should be available 24-7.
He says people should play close attention to the warning signs of suicide. Whether it's mood swings, negative thinking, anger, withdrawal, hopelessness, recklessness, or an increase in substance abuse, Jessee says when a loved one starts showing these signs, it's time for you to step in.
"They need to engage that individual, to be non-judgmental, to listen, to be supportive, encouraging and giving them some glimpse that there is hope, there are options," Jessee said.
Therapists also say people in need shouldn't be ashamed to call suicide prevention help lines. They recommend hotlines like (800) SUI-CIDE, (800) 273-TALK, and (877) 928-9067.
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