Stranger standing on a road bridge ..

[willowcatkin111]

.. in the middle of the night - what do you do, stop, call the police or ignore?

Wow, what a disgusting attitude to have. The majority of people who contemplate suicide are not thinking rationally, they often see no other way out and appropriate intervention usually prevents them following through with it.

Wow Willow. Let's hope you don't have a loved one gone missing in a terrible state where a member of the public ignores them.

We know that many threatened suicides are a cry for help.

Writing something off as not your business is not something I could do

When I saw the bloke taking his life in his hands on the M60 I had no choice but to speed past in moving traffic. But just ignore it and get on with my life ? No way.

I'd speak to the person myself. One day they might thank you for interfering, like this guy: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25959260

I had a feeling there would be someone in this scenario that didn't give a shit about the distress that other human beings can feel. What a shame it was you, willow.

Wow what an attitude.

FYI Willow we get calls like this regularly at work (police) Most are actually a cry for help and the persons at breaking point. Thank God most people don't have your attitude and most people's instinct is to call 999

I'm about to report this post to MNHQ. On a thread on the 19th October the OP said...

I am suicidal and still waiting for any regular help 6 months in ....
When things get too much I end up in hospital for a few hours/days (depending on whether I get 'picked up' before or after an attempt) which helps tide me over the next 2 - 3 weeks and so the pattern continues

Op your comments are going to provoke a lot of negative reaction. If you're still feeling down, hide the thread or seek help.

I agree that people should be free to end their life if they want to. But in the case of somebody on a bridge, I'd call the police because they could possibly kill people driving under it at the wrong moment or at the least, cause them a lot of distress.

If in doubt please call the police. I have been suicidal. I've also seen the aftermath on a family of suicide.

The other people to think about are the drivers on the motorway. There may be a further accident or loss of life. Additionally if a driver did hit a person attempting to commit suicide it will stay with the driver long term (look up the effect it has on train drivers).

Even if you think they have the right to take their own lives, and I suppose I agree we all have that "right", at the very least I would want to try and stop them destroying an innocent driver's life, can you imagine having to live with that?

Or what if they landed on a windscreen, caused a pile up and took other innocent lives with them?

You sound quite hard hearted and cold OP.

Oh dear

Jeez

I may not stop and try and talk to them, but I would sure as hell call the police and get them to come and talk to them. Who are you to decide if someone is worth saving? Most depressive episodes are short lived, and the depressed person needs someone to help them find their way through it. At least your DH has his head on right.

OP if what Daisies said is correct, and if this thread is an oblique reference to your own feelings then please call Samaritans on 116 123

They just listen, they won't try and talk you out of suicide and they are completely confidential and non-judgemental. As far as I know the number won't show up on phone bills either.

Or you can email or text them, but you won't get an instant response.

Willow....are you OK ?

Before this gets zapped, please note this heartening fact. Any tiny intervention, viz selling paracetamol in small packs, signs on bridges cuts suicide rates. And those who attempt suicide are usually happy when it's thwarted- they don't go in to CS successfully.
willow

OP I hope I'm not reading too much into this but...you are not alone

very sad post.

I am OK. I have been in that position many times - I know the police and MH services have to stop you but I cannot get my head round a complete stranger doing it.

Willow...are you saying you want to be left alone to take your life ?

They would just, surely, be making sure - in the first instance - that the person was safe, willow?

Self-determination?

Standing on a bridge, still pondering jumping, is not an act of self-determination. It is indecision, desperate unhappiness, not knowing what to do ...

My mum's brother killed himself when he was 13. Bullied to death. Had had enough. So took his life. If he'd done it by jumping (he didn't) ... if he had been standing on a bridge, obviously thinking about it, and nobody had called even though they'd seen him ... indefensible.

Shocking attitude, OP.

ewe read the end of the thread...

Aged 14 I slit my own wrists, took 3 packs of aspirin with 1L of vodka. I wanted to die. I wanted to end it and when I came around in hospital I called the staff cunts for 'prolonging my suffering' it wasn't me talking. it was the PTSD, the depression and the pain that I thought back then would never end.
Today, over 15yrs on I sit with my newborn DD, in a lovely flat that I love with few worries and none of the worries I had back then at 14.
Had I taken my life there are so many things, amazing things, good, mundane and terrible that I would not have experienced. And I wouldn't want to have died that night.
I wouldn't have done so many good things, like helping my little sister whos due to turn 18 make her way in the world, I wouldn't have brought my beautiful LG into the world, I wouldn't have saved XH's life, twice.
I wouldn't have made up with my mum, Or seen several countries and so many other things I've done that have been good, amazing fun and happy.
People who are depressed and/or suicidal are NOT write offs.

I have now.

It's a cry for help.

People should call if they see this.

People are reaching out now, as they should.

Please call a help line, OP. Or go to a friend. or A&E. But please ask for help if you're struggling.