A man who died by suicide was found inside a tent under the B-Line trail bridge near Switchyard Park around 6:00 a.m. Sunday, according to Bloomington Police Captain Ryan Pedigo. His identity is not publicly known at this time.
The responding officer called an ambulance and the fire department, then went to check on the man, the Bloomingtonian reported. The Monroe County Coroner declared the man dead at the scene.
Unhoused members of the Bloomington community have been living in tents under that bridge because camping is not allowed in city parks. Encampments in Switchyard Park have been dismantled multiple times.
Suicide rates are about 10 times higher for unhoused people than for the general population, and more than half of people experiencing homelessness have had suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide, according to the National Healthcare for the Homeless Council.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255.
