‘Please reach out… you are loved’: Signs of hope left at Leeds suicide spot

Signs of hope are being left at a Leeds bridge to remind people who are struggling with their mental health that they are loved – and that help is always available.

Bearing positive messages like “please reach out… you are loved”, the notes were spotted on the motorway bridge on Scotchman Lane this week by local resident Josh Sturgeon.

The local bridge has had a lot of people go there when contemplating suicide over the years, so locals have started putting up inspirational quotes and messages in the hope they can change people’s minds before it’s too late.

One simply reads: “life can be tough but so are you.”

Another says: “Never stop believing in yourself. You can change what tomorrow brings.”

Sturgeon, who shared the signs to a local community Facebook group, credited Leeds’ mental health services MINT (Men In Need Together) with putting up the inspirational signs.

The charity has personally helped some people who’ve stood on the bridge over the years and contemplated ending things, so decided to put the signs up as part of a campaign for mental health week.

They asked service users to contribute positive messages for the signs and also left out their own leaflets in the hopes that it might encourage anyone suffering to reach out.

The organisation hosts free support groups every Tuesday for men struggling with their mental health and welcomes all “whether it’s a medical condition, a sad event that has happened or if you are just genuinely feeling down and out.”

Encouraging people to attend their group sessions, a post on MINT’s Facebook page reads: “There is no problem too big or too small and all are welcome to join our team this evening.

“You can speak as much or as little as you wish, sometimes just listening to other men speak about their demons can enrich you with confidence to speak but that’s entirely up to you.”

Follow MINT on Facebook to find out more about their mental health support services.