My name Is David.. I'm 29 and im from sunderland.  This is my story hoping to make a change for suicide prevention accross the north east and uk.

Like everyone else, I suppose in many cases I'm no different to anyone else..but we are all facing unseen times ..Men, women and Children are finding it harder and harder to deal with today's pressures, which ever it may be . But i ,  like many others i suffer with alot of mental health issues caused by many tramuas in my past, including addiction and abuse. A summer night in autum 2022 I thought everything in my life was "just too much and I just couldn't see no other way out" that evening I decided .. I jumped off the wearmouth bridge, I went. .I did not think or stop, I just did it and jumped. I don't know how but thankfully now I survived, recused and rushed to the RVI by emergency services. I had many injuries.

Today I look back at this trauma. The lowest point in my life and I'm so thankful I survived and realise how fortunate I really am. I am undergoing therapy with alot of support from family and friends and im fortunate to be happy and healthy again . Today I want to make a stand and help the vulnerable, to ensure people are heard..to be listened and that   "jumping" & "suicide" is no longer an option, that there is survivers and hope for all.. in every circumstance. 

But still for many struggling with mental health, depression, homelessness, Money or grief worries ..it is so desperately becoming the go to normall escape and we are tragically loosing our love ones almost everyday.

Only last week a young dear friend to many in sunderland sadly passed unfortunately committing suicide .she was found around 1 hour later devastating the community once more.

My thoughts and prayers are with her family . All she needed is support ! And now thousands of men, women, friends and family across the country grieve once more .

its so very clear now to me in 2023 their is things that can be done in suicide prevention if only little things can make the big difference on our regions bridges and I would like to ask the North East,  everyone one who is and have been affected by this suicide pandemic and the government to stand up and give support for suicide prevention.

my main aim is to get more help points implemented across Tyne and Wear,  sos/crisis line telephone boxes on our briges, safety netting, cctv and more signage of hope and support educating the public by created artwork from our schools to university and hospitals on all our bridges with empathy care and colour . I feel deeply having sos boxes our bridges, netting and warning signs could save lives!! �

please let's stand together and simply save lives�

Our region the NE continues to be the highest in the UK being the suicide capital.. sadly this crisis is only on the rise. Statistics show in 2019/2020 In Sunderland the figure went up 50% from 30 to 45 , 328 in our region alone almost 1 person a week die in sunderland committing suicide.. majority being men.

However the number of suicides in 2020 across the North East could actually be even higher, as the ONS stated that there are likely to have been delays in registering suicide deaths due to the pandemic.

Not only sunderland and NE but the whole country can relate in one way or another with suicide and the major affects it has on their loved ones aftermath, family  and friends and the shock it has on our communities. Bystanders, witnesses and our amazing emergency services.

Thank you to all emergency services who helped not only me !� but men and women on a daily basis we are really truly grateful � 

Help each other cross bridges together ❤️