If you travel Route 35 between Perth Amboy and South Amboy over the Victory Bridge, the thought has to cross your mind that many distressed individuals have tried – and unfortunately succeeded in killing themselves after jumping from the span.

Apparently the signs at each end of the bridge don’t seem to help much.

Signs that say words to the effect that “life is worth living – call if in distress!”

Since 2004 when the bridge was opened, 22 people have died jumping from the bridge – the latest being a 16-year-old student at Perth Amboy’s Academy for Urban Leadership Charter High School.

And just last night, we received an email from someone telling us that there was another jumper.

According to this: rescuers pulled a second teen from the waters of the Raritan after the teen either jumped or fell from the bridge.

“We recovered a male screaming for help in the water.” “He was alive and conscious with some injuries.”

Perth Amboy’s Mayor Wilda Diaz have made pleas to the State Department of Transportation – which operates the bridge - to erect barriers or some type of wire mesh that would prevent would be jumpers.

If you were to travel over the bridge, you’d see how easy it would be for someone to jump. There’s easy access – and room enough to park along the shoulder.

But this begs the question, “would it stop someone desperate enough to take their own life?”

My answer to that is that it would probably make it a little more difficult – since the bridge poses a convenient venue – but in the end, should the person not seek help, unfortunately no amount of mesh is going to stop them.

If you feel in such desperate straits, please don't hesitate to call the number below.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255.

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