Letter to the Editor: ‘Something must be done’ about parking garage suicides

By Frank Cirillo

Dear fellow alumni, students, faculty, and members of the Tampa community,

I would like to begin this letter by saying if you are struggling with suicidal thoughts please call 1-800-273-8255. In light of the recent suicide at the USF Beard parking garage and the spotlight on mental health in the most recent issue of the USF Alumni Association Magazine, I felt compelled to write this letter in the hopes of generating preventative action around suicides at the university parking facilities. As a former campus leader, I think it is imperative that the university address what happened a few days ago and more importantly, that it does something to prevent suicides in the future. 

Whether it be through direct action by the administration, a student government funded project, or a grassroots effort led by students and student organizations, something must be done about suicides at parking garages on campus. Simply google “suicide at parking garage” and you will be flooded with hundreds of articles, scientific studies and plans surrounding this issue. I would like to draw attention to the plan written up by International Parking Institute (IPI) that can be found here. On page five of the document, you will see fencing that has been installed on top floors of parking garages with the specific aim of preventing suicides. While a very small amount of suicides per year occur by jumping according to the IPI report, the issue can be prevented with a relatively low cost. “The cost to screen levels four and higher in a seven- or eight-level garage is about $220,000,” according to a University of Iowa study cited in the IPI report.

A quarter-million dollars per parking garage is a lot but how much is a life worth? I am not saying fences and screens on parking garages will eradicate suicides but it will further the conversation around mental health awareness and hopefully prevent suicides at parking garages.  I hope this letter will generate action at some level so that the young woman’s tragic death at the Beard garage can help increase preventative measures in the local community. I realize change at the governmental level is slow and painful, but make this issue a priority. If the administration won’t address it, make a multi-year plan to pay for it over time in student government. Lobby the state legislature for specific funds to pay for fencing and screening at all public universities and local municipalities. Pressure private institutions with parking garages, especially hospitals, to add fencing and screens as well. 

While I have been removed from Florida politics for some time now and USF student government politics for even longer, I know that if the political will is behind an issue, policymakers can find creative ways to pay for things without raising fees or taxes. If you agree that we need to address suicides at the parking garages on campus, sign this letter asking for USF to add fences to all University Garage rooftops and screens to all garage levels above the 3rd floor by the end of this school year. Contact university officials, student government representatives, and elected officials to demand action. While the woman who lost her life wasn’t a USF student, we as a community should work to address this aspect of suicide prevention on campus in memory of her life. 

Sincerely, 

Frank A. Cirillo

During his time at USF, Mr. Cirillo was a Senator at-large and Solicitor General in student government, a founding father and officer of his fraternity, Sigma Pi, President and Vice-President of the order of the Golden Brahman, and a member of the Honors College and Provost’s Scholars Program. He graduated with honors in 2016 with a double major in economics and political science and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in applied economics at Johns Hopkins University. 

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Written by: Frank Cirillo on October 22, 2019.
Last revised by: Kat Piccolo