N.Y. Officer Pulls Suicidal Woman from Ledge of Overpass Bridge

SYRACUSE, NY―A woman threatening to jump from an overpass into heavy Interstate 690 traffic Monday night was pulled from the ledge by a Syracuse police officer.

Officers and Syracuse firefighters were called to a South Midler Avenue overpass bridge just after 7 p.m. for a report of a person in crisis, according to a news release issued by the Syracuse Police Department.

A 23-year-old woman was found standing on the ledge of the overpass bridge, police said. It appeared that she intended to jump into the heavy traffic below, they said.

Some of the responding officers were also helping stop traffic below on I-690, police said.

Officer Sarah Hassett began speaking to the woman and could see the woman was in emotional distress, police said. Hassett spoke to the woman for several minutes in an attempt to calm her down, police said.

At one point during the interaction, Hassett reached out her hand and pulled the woman off the ledge and back to safety, police said.

The woman was taken to a local hospital for mental health evaluation, police said.

Are you thinking about suicide?

Here’s where to get help

• Dial 911 if you are in immediate danger.
• 1-800-273-8255 National Suicide Prevention Hotline. This toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline is available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. By dialing 1-800-273-TALK, the call is routed to the nearest crisis center in a national network of more than 150 crisis centers, including Contact Community Services in Syracuse.
• (315)-251-0600 Contact Community Services Hotline, provides 24 hour telephone counseling.
• 1-800-273-8255 Press 1, Veterans and Military Crisis Line
• Crisis Text Line, a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7 and confidential.
• (315) 448-6555. Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation Program (CPEP), 205 Prospect Ave., Syracuse. This licensed psychiatric emergency room at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center provides evaluation and treatment for individuals of all ages who are experiencing an acute mental health crisis.

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