“Sometimes the story you go out to tell, isn’t the one you find,” says reporter Garvin Thomas in his recent feature about our founder, Jake Ricker. Garvin had been following up on the viral feel-good TikTok video where a Golden Gate Bridge patrol officer rescued a wayward cell phone from dangerous territory – over the safety railing.
Jake was the one who called in the phone and could be seen in dozens of videos circulating social media, racking up millions of views. Garvin searched out Jake for a quote for his story. And then, like most anyone who learns of Jake’s work, Garvin was inspired.
Garvin’s feature highlighted two of Jake’s passions: photography, and suicide prevention. Read Encounters on Golden Gate Bridge Give Photographer’s Project Added Meaning, and catch the interview below.
The Backstory: A Photojournalism Project with a Twist
Five years ago, Jake started a new project photographing the energy and spirit of life on the Golden Gate Bridge. Joy, romance, chaos, accidents – he’s seen it all in his 1,800+ days walking the bridge. He has also documented the structural changes as the bridge’s Suicide Deterrent Net has gone up. There are over a thousand rolls of film, he guesstimates. When the net is completed, phase two is to produce an artbook from his work. Often imitated, no other photographer has walked the bridge, day-in, day-out, like Jake. There’s an unmistakable style to his work, one felt through every photo.
That story alone is compelling. But “Sometimes the story you go out to tell, isn’t the one you find.” And Jake found a different story, one that changed the trajectory of his life.
Jake Ricker’s Bridge Suicide Prevention Efforts
Near the start of his photojournalism project, Jake saw someone step out of the bridge crowd and climb over the safety railing, intent on jumping into the Bay to end their life. Jake walked over and talked to them for several minutes, hoping to keep them from jumping until bridge patrol could intervene. “I did what I’d hope someone else would do for me if they saw me struggling: reach out,” Jake says.
Since then, Jake has used his keen observation skills to identify people on the bridge who may be planning to end their lives. He has a great relationship with bridge patrol and calls them whenever he’s spotted something. Over the years he’s been involved in nearly 100 bridge interventions. Some ended with people coming back to the safe side of the bridge. Others ended how no one wanted them to. Being there to spot someone in crisis drives Jake, and day after day he’s on the bridge taking his photos and keeping watch.
A Moving Mission
People are drawn to Jake’s story. When he speaks about the people he’s helped to save, the interventions that didn’t end well, the families of those who have come to the bridge after a loss trying to find closure, it’s impossible not to be moved. His passion for helping people and his focus on reaching out in an authentic way has drawn support across the country, culminating in the creation of his non-profit The Suicide Bridge Project.
The Suicide Bridge Project’s Focus
Jake’s unique experiences and unconventional methods bring an important point of view and much-needed skillset to the ecosystem of people and groups who work diligently to save lives. The Suicide Bridge Project is a small group of Jake-supporters focused on taking the knowledge Jake has earned in his time on the bridge and expanding it to help even more people. The goal is a future where fewer families receive a devastating phone call letting them know someone they love has ended their life — by jumping from a bridge, or other means. The non-profit’s programs work to go further upstream to identify people considering suicide, aim to find new ways to intervene, and advocate for technology solutions, mental health services, and holistic strategies that can drive change.
Jake Lives the #BeThere Theme
It seems more than a twist of fate that Garvin’s segment aired just days before National Suicide Prevention Month kicked off on September 1st. Every September, mental health advocates, prevention organizers, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness. The Suicide Bridge Project is proud to be right there with them, sharing stories and resources across our social channels..
#BeThere is one of the messages of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. And “Be There” is something Jake embodies. Jake tends to be quiet about his work in the suicide prevention space. But his impact speaks volumes.
To everyone in the Suicide Prevention space, we are honored to work alongside you. To Garvin Thomas, thank you for shining a light on the topic of suicide prevention and someone passionate about intervention. If you are interested in donating to support The Suicide Bridge Project, please visit our website.
