Several weeks ago, a notification popped up on my phone. As I stared at it, I thought to myself…my God, another one?

I live in a quiet town outside of Los Angeles County of 36 thousand residents. To get to my City, you must drive on an overpass that has now been the location of over 18 suicides. One of the first recorded suicides was a mother (29) and her 4-year-old son. Each victim pulled their car over and jumped from the 90-foot overpass toward their death.

The latest was a 23-year-old, and the one before that was a 25-year-old. Although the range of age and gender has varied, the desperation in their hearts, minds, and souls is the same.

They are broken and alone.

Several years back, the State Highway Operations placed 11 signs all along the overpass along with the Suicide Hotline 988 and the Crisisline Number. But still, they jump. When each person gets to this overpass, they are past the point of a phone call, and their minds are made up. Their condition is dire. They come to jump.

The signs are not a deterrent but a constant reminder to the passerby. It’s a jolt to our daily routine. It brings awareness to the desperation of those who have taken their lives. They are fighting an inner battle that is not seen by the naked eye. We see them in our grocery stores, malls, coffee shops, and restaurants. These everyday folks carrying burdens so great that their only conclusion is to end the pain at the Arroyo Simi Overhead

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Each day that I drive by, I say a prayer for those who are battling depression, mental illness, loneliness, and heartbreak.
I whisper…HOLD ON.

Hold on and ask for help.
Hold on and call someone.
Hold on and cry, but don’t give up.

The California Department of Transportation will install a fence on top of the concrete that will make climbing difficult in hopes of delaying the inevitable.

When I received the alert on my phone, I whispered, “hold on, please, hold on,” but it was too late. The 23-year-old man jumped, but this time, the outcome was not as expected. He survived! Imagine his surprise when he landed and was still alive. He was airlifted to the nearest hospital and, according to the latest news, is stable and alert.

My prayer for him is for someone to come alongside him and tell him…
Your life matters.
Your story counts.
Your voice is heard.
We need you.
We see you.

Let’s offer hope over judgment.
We are living in incredibly dark times. A lot of brokenness is judged.
May we all learn to HOLD ON when things seem unbearable and challenging.
May we become examples of perseverance and fortitude when things are heavy.
May we lead with the fragrance of hope, kindness, gentleness, and love.
Be aware. Someone is watching how you survive so that they, too, can survive.

Hold on.

If you or anyone you know are battling any form of anxiety, depression, or mental health call the Suicide Crisis Hotline at 988 or go to https://988lifeline.org/