Construction to erect “suicide-prevention screens” on the historic Vista Bridge began in early August and were expected to be completed by the end of the month. Unfortunately, the installation was too late for one man, who jumped to his death on August 12, becoming the fifth suicide of the year at the Portland landmark (the highest rate in years). The event was witnessed by a crisis volunteer.

There’s been much publicity around the city’s scramble to address the high number of suicides, with actions in the past including posted signs listing crisis hotlines, enlisting volunteers to patrol the bridge during construction, and most recently erecting this mesh deterrent.

The idea behind all these measures is an attempt to provide one important thing for people in distress: time. Time to reconsider, time to connect with another human, time to remember the network of support or potential that might exist for that person. There are many different factors that might lead a person to consider ending their life, however one consistent factor in most cases is a chronic or temporary mental health issue.

The state’s 2012 report “Suicides in Oregon: Trends and Risk Factors,” indicated that roughly a third of the people suffered a crisis within the last two weeks prior to the suicide. They also found that nearly 30 percent indicated an intimate partner problem at the time of the suicide incident. Many of these short-term crises can be explored through some of the resources below, or connecting with appropriate mental health treatment providers for counseling.

•     The Multnomah County Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day at (503) 988-4888.

•     Lines for Life is available 24 hours a day at (503) 972-3456.

•     Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare has an urgent walk-in clinic open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Payment is not necessary. Call (503) 963-2575.

•     Finding a Licensed Professional Counselor for 6-10 sessions of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. Many credible counselors can be found through Psychology Today at http://therapists.psychologytoday.com