Messages of hope and support left on bridges to help people struggling with suicidal thoughts

A Tameside woman - who has struggled with suicidal thoughts - is trying to help people in the same position she was in, with a few words of kindness.

Lisa Barnes has launched 'Bridge the Gap', a campaign to decorate bridges around Greater Manchester with handwritten messages of hope and support.

She started her campaign on the same bridge in Hyde where she found herself a year ago, after battling depression and suicidal thoughts.

Luckily, Lisa was quickly helped by a negotiator and police support officers, who then referred her to counselling.

She now wants to help people who find themselves in the same position she did, by reminding them of a few simple words.

"My favourite quotes are 'You are kind, you are loved and you are brave'. It's simple words really but they might make people stop and think.

"About a year ago I suffered in mental health and I was in the same position that some of these people are in. Luckily the police and the ambulance and the negotiators talked me down. I honestly believe that if it wasn't for the counselling and the support I got from the local police, I wouldn't be here today.

"When I first became poorly, the gap between me being ill and the support is huge, so I thought that if I came to this bridge and put signs up to try and make people who come here just pause, then it might help.

"When I decorated the bridge on Saturday, the police were with me. I think, once you've been through it you can feel like the world would be a better place without you. I'm hoping that if someone stands on this bridge they'll see one of these signs and just pause.

"When you're in that dark place you can forget that you are loved. These messages aren't just from people who want to help, they're from people who are in that dark place, who want to prevent it from happening."

Lisa wants to spread the Bridge the Gap message across parts of Greater Manchester to try to help people struggling and in times of need.

To find out more about the project, visit Lisa's page: https://www.facebook.com/Bridge-The-Gap-175147776473509/?hc_ref=ARRuaMMnY3Dtc6CKj7EY_E6latDl1sYYv4PFzMFQRYUmmI0D8LlK1irqx6voQsasbe4&fref=nf