Without doubt it's a fun place to work.
But the creek which these happy boats plough, has an unfortunate dark side. You won't hear it about, you won't read it in the papers, or see it reported on the News Hour at 6.
But it happens.
People, for whatever reason, choose to jump into False Creek, with the intention of killing themselves. Which they unfortunately do.
I bring this subject up, as it happened last week. A young male decided to jump off Granville Bridge, mid morning right near the Aquabus dock.
Apparently the incident was further emotionally inflamed by a male witness who became very agitated while attempting to direct our drivers to aid the man who jumped.
Unfortunately this occurred in front of other passengers, including children, further causing distress for all concerned.
Who knows how we would react if we witnessed such an event before our very eyes. One can only feel for the emotionally distraught witness, who was acting with best intentions.
Yet, in doing so only compounding the shock for the customers who were also in the immediate vicinity.
For the drivers on the creek, if it is mentioned, it is not usually discussed at length. I have heard various recollections of drivers who have seen people jump from a bridge, or the more grisly task of haul a body out of the creek themselves.
I know of one driver who has it happened to them on at least 6 occasions over the last 15 years or so. I quizzed one old legend, about how they handled it afterwards. He confessed to going home and having several stiff drinks afterwards.
It astounds me, how well these drivers step up and do such a professional job in such dark circumstances.
The Coast Guard commended both drivers for their professionalism in this recent incident. This is not an uncommon response in incidents past by the emergency services on Aquabus drivers.
A casual search of suicide attempts on Google brings scant results. However, Vancouver Magazine did do a insightful piece in 2008. 'Fatal Bridges' by Danielle Egan confirms what I already know.
'The current attitude toward suicide—and toward bridge jumpers in particular—is not unlike our view of incest decades ago, or of sexual abuse by priests more recently: the less said, the better. The Vancouver Police Department has a blanket policy of not discussing suicide.' 1
Egan even mentions talking to an Aquabus driver who stated:
'An Aquabus driver approaching Granville Island one morning not long ago, asked if he’d ever come across a body in False Creek, replied, “Yeah, twice, first thing in the morning, under the Granville Bridge.” Asked for details, he replied, “We’re really not supposed to talk about it.” 2
It is a subject hard to understand, let alone talk about. The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention own guidelines state that news papers should not report suicides on the front page. (3) There is a fear that copycat suicides would result if they did.
Can you remember the last time you heard about some one jumping from Granville Bridge and dying on the radio? (It took divers to go 18 feet below before they could retrieve the victim out of the water last week.)
As someone who has been at Aquabus for some time, I am still concerned that drivers and immediate witnesses who see an incident so close, should be fully aware of the services available to cope with the emotional reaction they may experience after the event.
An email to bc211.ca (a website by United Way for access to community services) resulted in a reply by Team Leader Michelle Frawley. When the Police are present they can bring in the Victim Services Unit to direct them to services in the community.
Worksafe also has a Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP) which provides critical early intervention for those who witness a fatality, or physical injury. That would be a driver who pulls a body out of the creek to aid the emergency services.
By calling 1-888-922-3700 you can immediately access Mental health professionals who can debrief and follow up to reduce the distress experienced immediately following the event.
The thorny issue of suicide and if it will continue to be a taboo subject under the current guidelines is for another day.
However, for those who witness such an event - its imperative they have immediate access to health professionals that can debrief drivers that help in the aftermath of a suicide attempt.
It would really be best practice for those who experience the aftermath of a suicide attempt to call the Worksafe CIRP help line right after the event.
You can never be sure how one will react.
Be assured it's a normal reaction to an unfortunate traumatic event.
In the meantime......
peaaccccceeee out sisters......
Sources -
1, 2 - http://www.vanmag.com/news_and_features/politics/final_taboo?page=0%2C2
3 - http://www.cpa-apc.org/browse/documents/273&xwm=true
