An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

My Coast Guard
Commentary | Sept. 18, 2020

Make it your mission to be there and connect to protect. 

By Video from PACARA Public Affairs

TRANSCRIPT

I went out for a bike ride on the Golden Gate Bridge. On my way back, I um, noticed a pedestrian kind of…just standing….this female just standing, Um.

I just, I felt something kind of pull me to her. “Excuse me ma’am. Hi, are you ok?” 

She turned around, looked at me…tears, rolling down her face. 

She’s like, “No. No, I’m not ok.”

I leaned my bike over and went right to her, and I didn’t leave her side. 

I asked her if she was thinking of suicide. “Are you thinking of committing suicide?”

She said, “That’s what I came here to do.”

I confidently said, “I’m sorry, I’m here now. I can’t let you do that.”

Saving lives is why most of us got into this particular service.

Follow your instincts. I think what mainly got me was not only just being observant, “oh should I do that, should I not?”

Go for it. Unless it is going to hurt you or hurt somebody else, go for it. Because I believe those are little signs that we get instincly as human beings. 

Resources

  • The Coast Guard's emergency suicide crisis hotline is toll free and available 24/7 – 855-CGSUPRT (247-8778). 
  • Your Employee Assistance Program Coordinator (EAPC) in your regional Health, Safety, and Work-Life (HSWL) office
  • Coast Guard Chaplains: (855) 872-4242
  • Coast Guard National Command Center: 1-800-DAD-SAFE (323-7233)
  • National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
  • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
  • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (For Deaf and Hard of Hearing): 1-800-799-4TTY(4889)
  • The Trevor Project (Specific to LBGTQ+ Youth): 1-866-488-7386

Related