"I got up that morning as normal.....I felt a bit down but then I was on the bridge" - hear a suicide survivor's story
Lisa Barnes is backing our #PeopleCare campaign as we fight to break down the stigmas around talking about mental health
Last updated 15th Jan 2019
It's been almost two years since Lisa Barnes took an overdose and stood on a railway bridge in Tameside, wanting to take her own life.
In her own words, she's really close to her family but she says she didn't talk to them enough about the problems she was facing.
She had faced a difficult time in her life and had tried to kill herself once before:
'I say there was no triggers for anyone to know it would happen, I got up that morning as normal and, yeah, I felt a bit down but then it led to me taking the overdose and then the bridge incident.
"I sit and I'll think abut it now and, when I was on that railway bridge, the fact that I didn't jump, and I didn't even fall, just goes to show something good has to come from all of it.
"It was about freeing people from be being a burden and feeling like they could go on and be happier without me. I think if more conversations were had where people could just make it clear that it's not going to get better for people if you die, it would be a lot, lot easier.
"It was scary because I do talk, but obviously I didn't talk enough. That's what pushes me because it I can end up like that then anyone can and it's easy for anyone to end up in that position."
Lisa now runs the project Bridge the Gap. She decorates bridges where people are known to have attempted to jump, putting up messages of hope, support and love for anyone in crisis.
Every one of her notes is handmade - they say things like "Suicide doesn't take away the pain, it just passes it on to someone else." and "Warrior. Remember, you are strong."
She is supporting our #PeopleCare campaign, as we seek to encourage people to talk more openly, and for friends and family members to make sure they listen to loved ones if they are struggling:
"People are still so scared of the word suicide. I know how I feel - there's people that I used to speak to before it happened and now they just won't stop and talk. I want to say to them that you won't catch it - people just don't want to know."
If you are struggling, there are places to turn:
Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/
Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/
Visit http://www.stayingsafe.net/ where there are resources available to make a personalised 'Safety plan' to help you if you feel unsafe or in despair