San Francisco has recently completed a six-year project to install suicide nets on the Golden Gate Bridge in an effort to prevent people from taking their lives by jumping off the iconic structure. The project, which cost the city $224 million, was originally estimated to require $76 million in funding. The new stainless steel mesh netting extends 20 feet from the pavement and has been designed to minimize interference with the daily operations and maintenance of the bridge.

Critics of the project had expressed concerns that the safety measure would clash with the bridge's architecture. However, the netting, inspired by a similar structure in Bern, Switzerland, has already proven effective in reducing the number of suicides. In 2023, the annual average of people jumping off the bridge dropped from 30 to 14.

Kevin Hines, a suicide prevention advocate and survivor of a suicide attempt on the Golden Gate Bridge, expressed gratitude for the installation of the nets. Hines, who jumped off the bridge at age 19 in 2000, believes that if the nets had been in place at the time, he would have been stopped by the police and received immediate help. Hines, along with other parents who lost their children to suicide at the bridge, had been advocating for a solution for two decades.

The nets, made of marine-grade stainless steel, are not visible from cars crossing the bridge but can be seen by pedestrians standing by the rails. They are meant to deter individuals from jumping and reduce the death rate of those who still attempt to do so. However, it is acknowledged that those who jump into the nets are likely to be badly injured, as the netting is compared to a "cheese grater" by Dennis Mulligan, general manager of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.

Firefighters in San Francisco and Marin counties are undergoing training to rescue anyone who jumps into the nets, although ironworkers who maintain the bridge currently perform most of the rescues. Members of a bridge patrol also work to spot people considering suicide and prevent them from jumping.

The installation of the nets faced opposition from some who believed that the money could be better spent on other mental health resources. However, supporters of the nets argue that preventing easy access to lethal means is crucial in preventing suicides. Studies by Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley have shown that most survivors of suicide attempts will not try to take their own lives again.

The project has not been without controversy and legal disputes. The lead contractors on the project, Shimmick Construction Co. and Danny's Construction Co., filed a lawsuit against the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, claiming that changes and flaws in the government's design of the nets, as well as deterioration of the bridge's maintenance platforms, raised the construction price. The contractors state that they have lost approximately $100 million on the project and spent another $100 million to ensure its completion. A hearing on the dispute is scheduled for June.

Despite the challenges and criticisms, the installation of the suicide nets on the Golden Gate Bridge marks a significant step towards preventing suicides and saving lives. The nets serve as a physical barrier that can provide individuals in crisis with the time and opportunity to receive the help they need.