Woman Dies In Fatal Fall

I feel a little weird how we report these deaths as "falls." As if we don't know what they were. As if there isn't an epidemic coursing through this nation -- this world. And maybe if we keep reporting it as accidental, maybe the problem will just go away.

I know you can't speculate before a cause of death is assigned, but I really think we need to have a discussion about this stuff. This is the second one in less than six months, I think.

It may be time to start putting some fencing on top of that garage.

I created an account just to comment on this...
As someone who lost a close family member to suicide, I feel like reporting these deaths as falls (at lease until cause of death is determined) is a kindness to the family, intentional or not.
There's absolutely an epidemic, but I don't know that adding fencing to the top of the garage is feasible.
It took a LONG time to get any preventative measures for the Golden Gate Bridge, and a whole lot more "falls".
I think open, honest, painful dialogue and an openness to mental health treatment would go a lot further than barriers.
Just my two cents.

I am so sorry to hear of this tragedy. I'm a little confused, however. Is it customary to not follow up with any details? No name of the deceased? Are suicide deaths, confidential? Why aren't we informed as to who, what, when?

I understand the concern for the families of the deceased by not following up with details on the cause of the 'fall' other than there was no involvement of anyone else, which should also serve the need of the community at large to be assured there was no 'foul play'. And yes, there is a need to continue and further discussion on mental health issues. But as was referenced in the Yale Daily News, the truth of the matter is that many who come to YNHH are there because of a traumatic issue. Combine those issues with easy access to an elevated height should you not be able to 'deal' with whatever trauma have just been presented with, with a weakened mental/emotional state, and you have a recipe to end up with more stories like this one.

I think putting up barriers like fencing around the perimeter of the upper levels will most certainly help and is a reasonable precaution. Yes, post public awareness signs about mental health services also. But we should make it extremely difficult for one to so easily end their life in that manner. Anything that would act as a barrier is feasible and should be done immediately.

To the comment that those who go to YNHH are there for traumatic incident... So now we can make up facts if we don't know them? And the Yale daily news is some sort of source where you go for facts? Puleez. I've actually learned that the deceased worked at YNHH and no one saw this coming, not her family, not her co-workers. A co-worker stated, "we are trained to see these things and didn't have a clue..." a cousin said, "neither did we." Sort of blows your theory out the water, Hill resident, that troubled people go to YNHH and then might not be able to deal... this young woman, who was beautiful, I saw a photo, was taking a lunch break. I've also have learned her name. Let's at least not create a story about troubled people going to YNHH. Seemingly well-adjusted people with bright futures and good jobs are killing themselves leaving people around them traumatized and clueless. Let's talk about that.

@ Get Out: My comment was 'many who come to YNHH are there because of a traumatic issue' ... not all, but MANY. Some people who face traumatic issues are NOT able to 'deal' with the trauma they have just been presented with, and if they have a weakened mental/emotional state may consider acts that would be harmful to themselves or others. I made no reference whatsoever about the deceased persons state of mind, looks, employment ... nothing. My statement of fact was a general one and I simply referenced what the reporter of the Yale Daily news wrote in their article because it aligned with my thoughts also. As someone who is trained and certified as a care giver to provide services to patients or families in hospitals, I don't create stories about troubled people going to YNHH. They are not only to be found on the psych floor, but also in the ER or OR or ICU or the waiting rooms, or waiting for ambulance to arrive, or at the morgue to identify someone. Illness, injury and death are troubling. When you are at the ER with a family member who has been the victim of a horrendous accident or assault, the family also experiences trauma. When your child is in PIC struggling to breath, as a parent you go thru trauma. When you receive the news that your loved one passed, you experience trauma. And when you work at a place where you might witness or have to deal with traumatic situations regularly ... you go thru trauma (PTSD is real). How you deal with it is what makes the difference. And sometimes the difference is 'can I go on?'. Not everyone has the same answer. I agree with your statement 'seemingly well-adjusted people with bright futures and good jobs are killing themselves' ... and the key word is 'seemingly. This young lady was troubled and no one saw it well enough. And for all the others that we may not see, I am suggesting a temporary remedy that might give them more time to hopefully get the help they need, or give us more time to reach them before it is too late.