On Friday, a 35-year-old man died after jumping off the Astoria Bridge. His death has opened up a conversation about what safety measures might be taken to prevent future tragedies. While Oregon Department of Transportation and local law enforcement officials weigh practical measures and their costs, health professionals say prevention is a role the entire community can take on.
“Everyone can play a role in supporting the mental health and well-being of our community members,” said CBH Clinical Operations Officer Stacy Lorette in an email to The Astorian. “Suicide prevention and mental wellness are collective responsibilities, and we encourage everyone to seek additional training and become involved.”
By the numbers
In 2023, there were 888 suicides in Oregon and nearly 49,000 in the country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Behavioral health advocates are encouraging communities to support their neighbors struggling with mental illness. However, some solutions may be more than just a matter of mental and emotional support. For instance, local professionals have been considering physical safety measures for years for the Astoria Bridge, but limited resources have gotten in the way.
In 2023, the Oregon Health Authority reported Clatsop County had eight suicides. Last weekend in Clatsop County, two people took their own lives and another, who ultimately survived, attempted to do so, according to Clatsop County Chief Medicolegal Death Investigator Liz DeVisser. In addition to the death from the bridge on Friday, a Warrenton man, 84, took his life on Monday by intentionally overdosing on prescription medication. County Sheriff Matt Phillips said the man had terminal cancer.
Another man, from Svensen, survived an attempted suicide from a “less lethal” pepper ball weapon, according to Astoria Police Chief Stacy Kelly.
Over the past two months, DeVisser said, there has been an uptick, with two recorded deaths by suicide for each month in April and May 2026.
According to Kelly, since 2001, there had been a dozen deaths by suicide reported at the Astoria Bridge, with one more presumed but the body was not recovered. Friday’s death adds one more to that number. “In addition… there are typically one or two incidents per year in which intervention efforts are successful, and individuals are talked down from the bridge, often with assistance from the Clatsop Behavioral Health outreach teams,” said Kelly.
Mitigation efforts v cost
“It is unfortunate that this seems to happen about once a year,” said Oregon Department of Transportation District 1 Maintenance and Operations Manager Mark Buffington in an email to The Astorian.
The bridge, which reaches 315 feet at zero tide, has two signs displaying the suicide hotline phone number at each end.
According to Buffington and Kelly community members have had conversations about what safety measures could be employed to mitigate future deaths. Some called for the installation of fencing and/or netting to reduce bridge-related suicides in the area. Officials with jurisdiction over other bridges, like the Golden Gate Bridge, have implemented similar measures to deter suicide attempts.
Stacy Lorette, CBH clinical operations officer, said her company supports all mitigation strategies but does not fully understand the complexities of bridge maintenance and construction or the barriers to mitigation efforts. “CBH refers to ODOT on these issues,” she said.
Kelly said there had been “multijurisdictional meetings with ODOT, mental health professionals, and law enforcement partners … in late 2022 or early 2023,” that did not result in any concrete solutions. Buffington said fencing and/or netting measures in Astoria are unlikely to come to fruition anytime soon. Part of the reason why is the cost. He said it would be over $1 million to conduct the necessary engineering study and remodeling to support the weight and wind resistance that fencing would require.
Additionally, Buffington said netting, such as is used at the Golden Gate Bridge, would add to another problem. It could escalate the “cormorant nesting issue already on the bridge,” he said, by creating more surface area for the birds to nest on. “Also, the maintenance on netting would be a regular occurrence due to weather conditions up on the bridge,” Buffington said. “Netting would also require an engineering study like fencing and would be very expensive to install and maintain … and at this time, there is not funding available for this large change in the bridge.”
Buffington said there has also been discussion about “installing more cameras on the bridge and connecting the cameras with 911,” but, again, the barrier is the high cost. He said ODOT “isn’t funded at this time to add camera infrastructure to the bridge.”
However, Buffington opened the door to alternate funding strategies for safety mitigation. He said he doesn’t know “of any reason that the city or county could not contribute funds, other than it is really expensive and it seems as though all government agencies are struggling with budgets.”
While recent deaths may reopen safety mitigation conversations with officials in local government, transportation and law enforcement, they also may open the door to renewed community involvement, said Lorette.
Everyone can play a role in supporting community members’ mental health and well-being, she said. “Suicide prevention and mental wellness are collective responsibilities, and we encourage everyone to seek additional training and become involved.”
Lorette said mental health and wellness are products of what are called “social drivers of health.” These include access to affordable housing, child care, social connectedness, belonging, purpose and livable wages. “CBH encourages our community to consider all of these factors when we think about suicide prevention,” Lorette said.
What to do
In the case of an emergency where someone appears to be attempting suicide or is in immediate danger, Lorette said to call 911 right away. If possible, she said it is important to ensure that a responsible adult remains with an individual in crisis and maintains visual contact until a mental health professional can assist in developing a safety plan.
The following is a list of things Lorette said people can do to helping someone in a mental health emergency.
Remain caring, compassionate and curious.
Avoid judgmental comments, especially if suicide is discussed.
Do not focus on solving problems or immediately offering solutions.
Avoid telling the person how they should feel or using shame-based language or tactics.
If you are unsure of a person’s preferred pronouns, use “they” until you know their preference.
People in Clatsop County have options when it comes to accessing qualified mental health professionals, peer support specialists, and trauma-informed assistance. They can call Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare’s 24-hour crisis line at 503-325-5724 for free and confidential support. Additionally, CBH provides urgent walk-in services with no insurance necessary from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at 115 W Bond St., Astoria, and 1005 Broadway St., Seaside.
Additionally, if you or someone you know is in crisis, or you just want to talk to someone, you can call 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which is open 24/7. “You are not alone.”