Reflecting on Suicide Prevention: The Footbridge Dilemma
Welcome, dear readers, to another delightful summary of events where the delicate ring of seriousness meets the quirkiness of human dilemma! In September 2023, a heartbreaking incident occurred on the Farinet footbridge in Saillon—young Morane‘s tragic suicide, brought on by harassment, thrust a spotlight on an isolated yet recurrent problem. Talk about an unwanted claim to fame! This footbridge, once considered merely a peculiar pathway for scenic strolls, is now a focal point of prevention efforts. Imagine that—no one plans to become a tourism hotspot for all the wrong reasons!
Raise Awareness, Not Just Roofs
Fast forward a year, and we’ve got the municipalities of Leytron and Saillon, alongside the Pars pas association, getting busy with some preventative measures. They’ve decided that the best way to tackle this issue is with good old-fashioned communication: by installing prevention signs. Yes, folks, colorful little reminders to seek help if you’re feeling down. It’s like a roadside attraction but, you know, without the oversized spoon or a bizarre inhabitant! Teresa Stoffel, the vice-president of Pars pas, nails it: “The footbridge at Farinet is isolated. You can easily go there without being seen.” I guess that’s her way of saying it’s perfect for both contemplation and, unfortunately, more somber acts.
She goes on to assert that “putting up a sign to call for help” can save lives. And who would disagree? If only the message could be delivered with a side of humor—”Feeling down? Don’t jump! Talk it out with a pal!”—now, that would definitely get folks chatting!
Balancing Nature and Necessity
But here’s where things get a bit sticky. While these signs represent a step in the right direction, some community members believe that more robust safety measures, like nets or completely closing off the footbridge, could be the way to go. I mean, who doesn’t want to add a rubber-stamped “NO” to the risk of plummeting off a footbridge? But alas! Teresa to the rescue, pointing out that “it depends on the means available.” Spoiler alert: bureaucracy is notoriously slow, and they hardly ever roll out the red carpet for urgent requests! Just think of all the years it might take to get those nets up—if they even manage to get approved!
Charles-Henri Thurre, president of the commune of Saillon, is caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, he acknowledges that the footbridge, built in 2007, aimed to have the smallest footprint on our dear Mother Nature. Let’s face it, you can’t exactly say, “Hey, look at me! I want to save lives while possibly scarring the local wildlife!” But as he humorously implies, great care must be taken to ensure that everyone’s opinions are heard—and given how long permits can take, he might as well start planning for the next Olympic Games!
Talking Instead of Silence
I love this debate. It exposes such a delicate dilemma: how to raise awareness without inadvertently turning your local footbridge into a grim tourist destination. Silence, as Teresa rightly points out, is the ultimate loser in this battle. “The worst thing is always to do nothing,” she insists. It’s a fair point. After all, ignoring a problem never magically solves it—it merely lets it fester like yesterday’s takeout in your fridge!
So, as we traverse this complex landscape of prevention and awareness, the essence of it all boils down to this: the need for dialogue. Because in the end, talking can save lives. And if we can sprinkle in a bit of humor along the way? Even better! So, here’s to the footbridge at Farinet—a place for both reflection and, hopefully, connection. Let’s keep the conversation going and look out for one another, from footbridges to realities!
In September 2023, the suicide of young Morane, victim of harassment, from the Farinet footbridge in Saillon shocked Valais, revealing a recurring problem linked to this isolated place. A year later, the municipalities of Leytron and Saillon, with the Pars pas association, took measures to strengthen security.
Prevention signs have been installed on the footbridge, in order to raise awareness among visitors and encourage them to seek help in the event of psychological distress.
Teresa Stoffel, vice-president of the Pars pas association, underlines the importance of this initiative: “The footbridge at Farinet is isolated. You can easily go there without being seen. From this point of view, it is very important to “Put up a sign to call for help. Talking can save lives.”
The footbridge was built in 2001. [Virginie Brawand]
While these signs are a first step, some say more drastic measures may be needed to prevent future suicides. “The best would have been to install nets, like at the Ganter bridge, and to close the footbridge,” adds Teresa Stoffel, Friday on the RTS Forum show. But she recognizes that the establishment of such an infrastructure depends on the means available.
No nets planned
Charles-Henri Thurre, president of the commune of Saillon, responds: “Built in 2007, the footbridge was designed to minimize the impact on the surrounding nature. It was decided to make it as discreet as possible, with a limited impact on the local fauna and flora.”
In this sense, he underlines the difficulty of considering structural modifications: “I can totally imagine going into combat to install nets.” But he points out that it often takes several years to obtain the necessary authorizations.
The debate around suicide prevention on this site highlights a delicate dilemma: how to raise awareness and protect, while avoiding unintentionally drawing attention to a specific and potentially dangerous place? Teresa Stoffel would like to point out that silence is never the solution: “The worst thing is always to do nothing. You do not attract more people with such signs. On the contrary, it shows that the municipality is attentive and encourages people to discuss the subject.”
Comments collected by Anne Fournier and Valentin Emery
Adaptation web: exercise