Hero Jon Bon Jovi Saved a Woman From Jumping Off Bridge: Here's What to Do If You See Someone in Crisis
It seems Jon Bon Jovi recently came to the rescue of a woman in crisis. Police in Nashville, Tennessee, reported that the singer helped a woman who was on the ledge of a bridge Tuesday night.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said Bon Jovi and his team were at the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge as a woman nearby stood on the outside of the bridge railing and looked down over the Cumberland River. Bon Jovi came over to speak to the and then assisted her as she made her way back onto the bridge, police said.
Police released security video of the interaction, in which a woman stands on the ledge. Other people pass her, and farther down the bridge, Bon Jovi's team appears to be setting up for a video or photo shoot.
A man, who police identified as Bon Jovi, walks over to the woman and, keeping a bit of distance, waves to her before leaning on the railing. The video has no audio, but it appears the two are speaking to one another before Bon Jovi and another bystander move closer to the woman. They’re then seen holding onto her arms and aiding her as she moved back over the railing and onto the pedestrian walkway.
As more people gather around the woman and Bon Jovi, the two hug one another. Later in the video, he leaves the bridge with her.
Mental health experts explain how you can help someone in crisis
While the exact conversation between Bon Jovi and the woman in the video remains unknown, it seems the Grammy Award-winning musician offered comfort in a time of need. We asked our mental health experts to offer some insights about how we can all support one another.
First, it’s important to understand the perspective of a person experiencing a mental health emergency.
"Most people do not think to end their life as a first sign of depression, but rather this thought comes gradually as the depression worsens, the hopelessness sets in, the various attempts to help them are not fruitful, isolation leads to having even less reasons to get out of bed and in the end thinking there is no reason to keep going," says Mirela Loftus, MD, PhD, Medical Director of Newport Healthcare. "The progression starts with just imagining what the world would look like without them in it, but then once that thought solidifies, it can start shaping into planning and eventually acting on it."
While every person and circumstance is unique, they may not always exhibit what we commonly think of as signs of distress. In fact, research shows that right before someone commits suicide, they actually feel really good, explains Avigail Lev, Psy.D, Founder and Director at Bay Area CBT Center.
“So, most likely, right before people end their lives, they experience a sense of happiness, relief or joy,” she says. “We often see that, just before committing suicide, individuals begin giving away their belongings and acting generously. There’s typically an uptick in happiness after the decision to take their own life has been made but before they act on it.”
If you see someone in crisis and believe they are going to harm themselves, the best course of action is to get a professional involved, whether a therapist or, in the worst-case scenario, the police, advises Lev. You should eventually try to convince the person to go to a hospital and get evaluated.
At the same time, it's also important to make them feel hopeful, suggesting that there may be an answer, solution or coping mechanism they haven’t tried yet, she adds. You might want to gently persuade them that finding the right therapist, getting on medication or making changes in their job or relationship could offer positive change.
Ultimately, though being with someone that is in distress, or struggling with suicidal thoughts, isn’t about saying the “right thing” or avoiding the “wrong words,” offers Jill McMahon, LPC, Grief and Trauma Specialist and Suicidologist.
“It’s more about just providing a safe space for the person that is struggling,” she says. “Too often, friends and family focus on the fear of saying something that will cause more pain, or push our loved one over the edge. When really those that are depressed, confused, and struggling to live typically feel invisible or unheard. Tip-toeing around their emotions will not make them feel any less unseen.”
The best way to help someone experiencing suicidal ideation is to stop, pause and most importantly, spend the time to listen to them and validate their feelings. You can be honest with them and tell them that what they are experiencing scares you, but assure them you aren’t going anywhere and you aren’t here to judge, recommends McMahon.
“Hearing those words will provide relief, and help them to feel connected – something that often is rare for an individual struggling with suicidal thoughts,” she says. “Each opportunity to feel heard and genuinely share their feelings helps to lift their burden, or release the weight that is slowly pulling them under. Provide a safe space for them to share, first and foremost.” It seems as if Jon Bon Jovi did exactly that.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
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