"I was out cycling on a normal Monday in October when I saw a man who looked visibly upset, and that he might be thinking of taking his life. A woman had already stopped and was talking to him as I arrived. I joined her and tried to get him talking. I introduced myself, asked his name, and what had brought him to this point. From my Samaritans ‘Managing Suicidal Contacts’ course training, I knew that if he could talk and get things off his chest, he might feel some emotional release. While we spoke, the lady went to call for help. I wanted to get him to a safer place. He was anxious at first but eventually agreed. I asked him to turn towards me so we could talk properly, face to face. When he did, we shared a hug and held on for a minute or two. He told me it was a particularly tough day, he’d suffered with depression for ten years, and he was missing family he couldn’t see. The emergency services arrived and took over, arranging to take him to a mental health team. We said our goodbyes, and I felt really emotional. To see someone so distressed, where life has become too much, is heart-breaking. Without Samaritans training, the help of that brave lady, and the courage to talk, he might not have got the help he needed. I’m so grateful I could make a difference. What I learnt, and want to remind everyone, is not to be afraid - you won’t say the wrong thing. you have every chance of making things better, just by talking. It’s all about that human connection.” Thank you so much to John for sharing his story and showing that you can interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts. We’d love to know if any of you have had similar experiences - times when you’ve helped someone who was struggling, or when someone has supported you. We’d be so grateful if you could share your story with us through this short form: https://bit.ly/3feBc3o To help keep the comments section safe for everyone, we’d kindly ask that you share your story via the form rather than in the comments section. Thank you so much for understanding and for helping us look after each other. (fb)

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