JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — Karen Soderberg lost her 34-year-old son David in June 2023 after he jumped off the Third Street bridge in Jamestown, Chautauqua County.

"I think the initial reaction is, 'it's not true.' You have a lot of 'why' questions," said Soderberg.

What You Need To Know

  • N.Y. recently approved the city of Jamestown to install 988 signs at the foot of bridges

  • The purpose of the signs are to help prevent people from jumping off

  • The signs are part of the national 988 effort

David is remembered as funny, but also as someone who struggled with addiction and mental health issues, such as schizophrenia. 

"You just have no clue why on that day he would have done something like that," said Soderberg. "It's kind of a shock. It doesn't really set in right away."

To curb the number of incidents on its bridges, this one with a cage, the state recently approved the city placing 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline signs at each one.

"Seeing that 988 number, and reaching out to somebody who maybe they don't have a personal relationship with, but they feel they can talk to. If it stops one, it's served its purpose," said Jamestown Mayor Kim Ecklund.

The mayor's effort was also motivated in part by the loss of her 27-year-old nephew Ryan, who took his life in a different way in 2020.

"There's was something going on that we didn't know. If you were to ask me if I thought my nephew would ever take his life, I'd tell you no," said Kim.

Ryan's mom, Michelle, spoke publicly for the first time, about the day that changed the family dynamic.

"It's with me every day when I wake up and it's with me every night. We're left with many questions. The could've, should've, would've. The guilt trip. Always asking why," said Michelle Johnson, a Florida resident.

What's not in question is how much Ryan was loved.

"He had the biggest heart," said Johnson. "And not understanding what made him feel so hopeless in that moment, as a parent, is extremely hard. You feel like you didn't do what you were supposed to do. But I know in my heart I did."

Johnson is grateful for the bridge signs she believes can be effective in a moment of desperation.

"So another family doesn't feel this level of pain. It doesn't go away," said Johnson. "There's a branch from our family tree that has fallen and won't grow back. And that's hard."

Johnson is in a survivor group and part of Ryan's Warriors to raise money for suicide prevention. Soderberg is calling on the community to be more watchful of people in distress.

She too has sought counseling, marking the end of each milestone first since losing her son.

"I guess it gets easier with time, but it always hurts," said Soderberg. "And it always will hurt."

The 988 Lifeline provides free and confidential support 24/7 for people in distress.