Powerful Moment Captured Between Man Contemplating Suicide and a Police Officer
Just after 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9, police in Raleigh, North Carolina, got a call about a man who appeared to be contemplating taking his life, ABC News reported.
Officer Dan Hicks arrived on the scene to find a man sitting on the ledge of a bridge on the Beltline over Wade Avenue. Hicks spent time talking to the man and was eventually able to persuade him to come back over from the ledge.
Then, once the man was standing on the highway, he embraced the officer. They stood there in a long hug before Hicks walked him back to a car.
This powerful moment happened just the day before World Suicide Prevention Day, on September 10. It’s a great reminder of the need for heightened suicide prevention and awareness, and of the power of a little human kindness.
Watch the video below for more on the story:
h/t Reddit Uplifting
Related: 18 Messages for Those Who’ve Lost a Loved One to Suicide
If you or someone you know needs help, see our suicide prevention resources.
If you need support right now, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Melissa McGlensey is the former News Editor at The Mighty. Her writing can also be seen in Ms. Magazine, on the Ms.Magazine blog and in The Huffington Post’s Good News, Comedy and Impact sections. Melissa is also a New York City comedian who does sketch, improv and stand up. She is passionate about social justice, politics, Thai food, literature, disability rights and more. She is currently in a long-distance relationship with her cat, Sneakers, who lives in California. You can follow her on twitter at @OhHeyMeliss.
melissa-mcglensey