Final answer:
The question relates to despair as depicted in Edvard Munch's painting 'In Despair', the portrayal of Peyton Farquhar in Ambrose Bierce's 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge', and the historical act of protest by Jan Palach. These references span art, literature, and historical events, contextualizing the concept of despair and its representations, rather than detailing a recent real-life incident.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question appears to reference events in literature or history rather than actual recent attempts of self-harm. In the discussion of despair and bridges, there are references to artistic expressions and historical events. For instance, in Edvard Munch's painting In Despair (4.4.23), we see a portrayal of a lonely man on a bridge who may represent Munch himself, expressing his profound feelings of grief and pain. This painting involves the use of the bridge's railing for compositional movement, helping to guide the viewer's eye through the painting.
Another literary reference is the excerpt from the short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce. Here, the character Peyton Farquhar is bound and about to be executed by hanging from a railroad bridge during the Civil War. The bridge in this context is a setting for the story's dramatic and poignant climax, where the reality of Farquhar's situation is revealed.
Lastly, we have the mention of a tragic historical event where Jan Palach, a Czech university student, self-immolated in protest of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, exemplifying the use of self-sacrifice as a form of political protest. Palach's act took place on the ground, not a bridge, but it emphasizes the effect of despair and the lengths to which individuals might go to make a statement.