Failed Suicides Leap Into Arms of Fishermen
Most of the victims are under 30, most of them are depressed about relationships, and the lives of many of them are completely in the h
Dark skinned and thick-muscled, Sari Ou Meu navigated hisboat toward the middle of the Tonle Sap river, beneath the Japanese FriendshipBridge in northern Phnom Penh. "This is the place where people drown when they drop fromthe bridge," said the 57-year-old boatman, indicating the water surface nearthe middle pile of the bridge. The Muslim fisherman said he had dragged 71 people from thewater in his life, with eight just this year. "But the number excludes drownedjumpers whose lives I could not save." Most of the victims are under 30, most of them are depressedabout ruined relationships or family matters, and the lives of many of them,police said, are completely in the hands of fishermen. When Sari Ou Meu pulls suicidal people from the water, heturns them over to nearby police, who then call their parents. Sometimes the family pays a reward, between $2.50 and $5, hesaid. "Sometimes they give none. It's up to them." Thirty-two people tried to commit suicide from the bridgethis year and nine succeeded, up from 27 attempts and four deaths the yearbefore, according to the Target III Unit, which is tasked with guarding thebridge. Lt. Un Phal, administrative head of the unit, said operationsto pull jumpers from the water rely solely on the fishermen. The unit has noresources to save people from drowning, he said. "What we can do to help is have our guards on the bridgewatch and stop those who are attempting to jump off the bridge," Un Phal said."If they have already falled into the water, their lives are in the hands ofthe fishermen." Most of the people who jump from the bridge say they hadsuffered a break-up in a relationship, he said. "Most of the people who failed at a suicide attempt tell methey wanted to kill themselves because their lover left them," he said. Othersare angry at their parents, and some people attempt suicide when they learnthey have HIV. Chhim Sotheara, managing director of the TransculturalPsychosocial Organization, said many people attempt suicide because they sufferdepression, which can be caused by the loss of beloved things. The first stages of depression, he said, include sadness,thinking too much, sleep loss, and a loss of interest in regular activities.Those with symptoms should seek help from friends, relatives or experts, ChhimSotheara said.