A mother's message: Every life matters
The HeraldNov 03, 2019
Her son, Joe, 41, who suffered from mental illness, jumped off the
And like she has since the day her son died, Koscinski is reminding county officials that they could make it more difficult for others to do the same, and that the right decision could save someone else's son or daughter.
Koscinski was troubled when she heard that the
"How much is your child worth?" she asked the county commissioners at their
Since her son's death, Koscinski has made it her mission to educate -- and to advocate.
People often don't understand the connection between mental illnesses -- including depression and schizophrenia, the disease that tormented her son -- and suicide, she said.
That misunderstanding can result in reactions that further injure the loved ones of those who take their own lives.
Often, she said suicide isn't the act of taking one's own life, but the final stage of an illness.
Today, Koscinski speaks out to help people understand that principle. As a trained educator for the Suicide Prevention Network, she addresses high school students and, earlier this month, gave a talk during the Mercer County Crisis Intervention Team's most recent training session.
The Crisis Intervention Team is made up, in part, of police officers who are often called up to address incidents that involve not criminals, but the mentally ill.
Through the Suicide Prevention Network, Koscinski is planning to put up signs reading "Your Life Matters," with a phone number for a suicide hotline, around the viaduct, which carries
Only one company,
"Some of our other PennDOT bridge contractors said they wouldn't even bid on that project this time of year," Elder said.
At their most recent meeting, the commissioners announced that the county had collected quotes from contractors not on PennDOT's approved list. Consequently, the county would have to pay for the work out of its general fund budget, instead of using liquid fuels money.
The county received two quotes -- for
Elder said the installation of anti-climb fencing wouldn't make it impossible for someone to take his or her own life by jumping from the bridge. But Koscinski said the barrier would make it more difficult to attempt suicide by jumping from the bridge.
And the delays that come from "more difficult" could be enough to save lives.
"One of the biggest deterrents to someone in that state of mind is putting some distance in space and time," she said.
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