[Brad from Tennessee]

In the late 1970’s California psychologist Dr. David Rosen interviewed seven people who had jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge and survived. There stories were amazing:

“. . . all of them had spiritual experiences during or straight after their jumps. They experienced feelings of intense peace and calm, an awareness of a ‘higher power’ and a connection to other human beings or the universe as a whole. And this state never faded. Although, in some cases it was several years since their jump, they had all retained this sense of meaning and well-being. In other words, they had undergone a permanent spiritual transformation. Most jumpers black out on hitting the water, but two of Rosen’s interviewees remained conscious, and had profound spiritual experiences right at that moment. . .”

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/out-the-darkness/201110/the-jumpers-what-happens-after-person-jumps-the-golden-gate-bridge-surv

[real saxophonist]

Many years ago, I was in the back seat of a car that narrowly avoided a head-on collision. I experienced that ‘intense peace and calm’. But, that never alleviated the suicidal feelings since. Such is the difficulty with mental illness.