The votes are in, the barriers are going up, and council agrees more needs to be done.

Niagara Regional Council voted 23-4 Thursday to spend $4-million to install suicide barriers on the trouble-plagued Burgoyne Bridge and end weeks of contentious debates.

"The cost is significant, but the upside is huge," said Niagara Falls Coun. Peter Nicholson. "It is justifiable given the upside."

Six deaths have occurred at the structure since October, as well as at least one other serious attempt. The discussions at committee meetings in recent weeks centred on the cost of the barriers and whether there were better ways to spend the money. At a committee meeting last week, Niagara Falls Coun. Bob Gale suggested his colleagues to "shut up" about the subject because they were making matters worse by drawing attention to the structure.

St. Catharines Coun. Laura Ip spoke of her suicide attempt as a teenager, and the loss of her sister six years ago. She said there was no question installing barriers is the right thing to do.

"Here is what I know for sure," she said. "In the moment that someone is thinking about dying, there is no thought about what medical or other supports exist. There is no thought about how their death will affect their family, friends, and community. The pain is so intense and so deep, there isn't room for other thoughts.

"To be extremely frank, if council decides not to install the barriers, then any future deaths on that piece of infrastructure must weigh heavily on our collective consciousness."

Fort Erie Coun. Tom Insinna voted against the measure and lamented the controversy over the barriers, but said the debates brought much needed attention to an "overarching problem" in our society, mental health.

"Spending $4-million would go a long way in the Region for mental health," he said. "We could support a hub. We could have trained people to prevent contagions. We can invest in mental health programs."

Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop said he was undecided about the barriers until last weekend before deciding to vote to build the barriers. He had sympathy for Insinna's position and those councillors concerned with fiscal responsibility

"I don't believe this is going to result in us having to put up barriers at every bridge that crosses every road, every river, every train tracks," Redekop said. "But if we do, we will deal with it on a case-by-case basis.

"This structure is a magnet, and we need to change the symbolism of the magnet."

Council voted to hire two full-time staffers in public health to support "mental health resiliency" and build "community capacity" for dealing with suicide.

Council also directed staff to work with community partners so trained volunteers are available at the structure and engage the police, emergency medical services and their own public health officials and co-ordinate their efforts to fill gaps and identify opportunities.

Senzik thanked all those involved for their efforts before vote was taken.

"We wouldn't be standing here today without the volunteers in our community, the families that have been impacted, the councillors who had the courage to stand up and talk about their personal journeys. I think this makes us stronger, not just as a council, but as a Region."

There are good resources available in Niagara for someone with suicidal thoughts.

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They include the emergency departments at Niagara Health hospitals as well as community-based programs such as Pathstone's 24-7 crisis hotline, 1-800-263-4944. Pathstone also has a walk-in clinic for youths and parents, which is open Tuesdays to Thursdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Niagara Distress Centre has 24-hour emergency numbers at 905-688-3711, 905-734-1212, 905-382-0689 and 905-563-6674, and Kid's Help Phone and Jeunesse J'ecoute for French-language services can both be accessed at 1-800-668-6868.

The First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line can be reached at 1-855-242-3310.

Niagara United is a citizen's advocacy group that offers support for those in crisis or those impacted by suicide. The volunteers can be contacted through their Facebook page or website, www.NiagaraUnited.org

William.Sawchuk@niagaradailies.com

905-225-1630 | @bill_standard

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