Hahn Urges State to Improve Cell Service on Vincent Thomas Bridge for People Experiencing Mental Health Crises
Supervisors approve Hahn motion to proclaim Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and September 8 as 9-8-8 Day in LA County
Los Angeles, CA – Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn sent a letter to California Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin urging him and his department to work on solutions to the poor cellphone service on the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro, which has a history of suicide attempts from its span above the Port of Los Angeles. Hahn’s letter coincided with her motion approved by the board today to proclaim September “National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month” and September 8, 2025 as “9-8-8 Day” in Los Angeles County.
“You can put all the fencing and signage up you want, but if someone standing on that bridge chooses to make the call for help and can’t because of a bad connection, the result could be devastating,” said Supervisor Hahn. “We continue to strengthen and promote our network of resources for people in mental health crises, and we urgently need to make sure everyone can reach them at all times.”
In an effort to prevent suicide attempts from the bridge, fencing was installed along its length, as well as signs with the Suicide Crisis Line phone number. However, the fencing has not successfully prevented all attempts, and the poor or nonexistent cell phone service on the span could hinder calls for help.
“I worry about someone standing on the bridge and choosing to call the Suicide Crisis Line, 988, or a family member, only to discover that they don’t have the cell signal necessary to make that lifesaving call for help,” wrote Hahn in her letter to Omishakin.
In 2023, suicide was the 14th leading cause of death among all residents in LA County and the 3rd leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24. Hahn’s motion also directs the County’s Department of Mental Health (DMH) to promote the County’s resources for those experiencing mental health crises. One of the primary resources available is the 9-8-8 crisis hotline, a short, easy to remember number that anyone can call or text to immediately connect with a trained crisis counselor. Under Hahn’s leadership, Los Angeles County has become one of the few counties in the nation that has ensured 9-8-8 calls can be connected to mobile crisis response teams when callers need an in-person response.
“Preventing suicide means all of us play an active role by looking out for those in our circle and in our communities,” said Dr. Lisa H. Wong, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. “This month and throughout the year, we must stay connected, pay attention to warning signs, and be a trusted friend and system of support to our loved ones and neighbors. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. Help is available by calling or texting 988, and you will be connected to someone that you can talk to because no one is ever alone.”
In July, amid federal funding cuts to the option that routes calls made to 9-8-8 to LGBTQ+ counseling, the Board also approved a motion authored by Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath to explore how the County could preserve the specialized routing for LGBTQ+ callers. The County CEO’s Legislative Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations team and DMH are expected to report back imminently on options for continued linkage between Los Angeles County’s 9-8-8 hotline and LGBTQ+-specific counseling services.
On September 12 and September 13, 2025, the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Networks and DMH will host the 15th annual Suicide Prevention Summit at Pasadena City College from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering attendees opportunities to learn about new suicide prevention and postvention research, interventions, and safe messaging strategies.