Female patient commits suicide at Hartford Hospital: Police

I was there when she jumped. There were only a few cars up on the top floor of the parking garage. We were killing time before my appointment facing the Capitol. My friend turned to get something in the backseat, when he noticed her standing on the ledge behind us closer to the building. She had a what looked like a blue scrub top, normal pants & a coat. She looked like an employee, it was lunch time, she was talking casually to someone below, didn’t look upset or frantic and what are the odds you are going to watch someone commit suicide? This is what we had to surmise with each other quickly and figure out what was going on & what to do. We didn’t want to run and scare her if she was was just a nurse on lunch break talking to someone and if she was about to jump we had to decide what to say/do and do it fast.

Then, a black crow came flying across our windshield making us look in the opposite direction. It landed on the ledge 2′ from us. I said “Wow, that was close…” It just stared back towards her. I said “Doesn’t a black crow mean something bad is about to happen?” He said “Yeah, when there’s only one”. We turned around and she was gone. This all happened in less than a minute.

We were hoping she just went back to work, then we noticed two women upset & on cell phones. They had just pulled up to park behind where she was standing when she jumped. I still can’t even think about it w/o crying. Don’t know what would’ve been worse..trying to talk her down and having her still jump (I’d always wonder if I said the wrong thing) or trying to grab her and she fell. It’s tough enough to deal with the way it went.

They need to put a metal fence/rail around the upper edge. The current structure is cement, about 4′ high, 1 1/2′wide..making it very easy for someone to climb up and stand easily. This is the second suicide in less than a year on this garage and you’re dealing with a building filled with patients. Something has to change.

I am so sorry for your loss. I’m really am just trying to think of a way to prevent access. If it is impossible to do, then the option no longer exists. Again, I really am sorry. I didn’t know her, but she will be in my thoughts and prayers forever.

My daughter also jumped from the parking garage last year. Our family therapist said someone else jumped about 10 yrs ago from the garage. Idea: take down the garage! I do agree that there is a LOT of room for improvement in the mental health care system. There is a lot to learn about suicide both in the professional and in the lay world. Parenting to prevent mental health issues is not discussed enough. My focus as a parent was on colds and chicken pox not enough on menal health. A psychologist needs to be part of the staff in peditrician offfices and in all schools. Even though fences are profolactic like a bandaid on an injury from someone who bumps into things ’cause she can’t see… we still use band aids when we haven’t found her glasses.

My heart goes out to “arelative”, the family of this newest youngest woman and everyone who has lost a loved one. Parents of Suicide is a terrific online email group. So, dear “arelative” think of reaching out to this group. Bearing the pain alone is too much. This group is sooo supportive and you’re not alone.

When it enough enough! How many more people have to jump off the garage before Hartford Hospital puts up barriers!?

Gepstein, My original post was to eliminate the first post by “Jackie”. Comments and concern by “Cathy” were extremely comforting to the family. However, I will again repeat that if suicides were accomplished via jumping from something like the hospital parking garage, it would have been done by another method. The key is proper Professional Mental Health care and further research. God Bless