This shows the Southsea end of Portsmouth from the Isle of Wight Ferry. I went to school behind those trees.
Genteel Southsea rather held its skirts away from the main city, I felt, a city that had not recovered from the Second World War and the subsequent reduction in British sea power. Once, on the way to the ferry, I took my family to sea the ugliest building in Britain, the brutalist Tricorn car park, a favourite suicide spot. Our big car park in Canterbury was not so ugly, except that it too attracted would-be suicides. Whatever the buildings’ style, they were places of great sadness; we are better off without them.
Of course getting rid of multi-storey car parks cannot take away people’s distress. But sometimes it falls to us to help, even if just to be there with them.
The rest of this post is from the Samaritans’ website. Worth reading for the odd moment when something feels not quite right.
MMB
How you can help
Suicidal feelings can be overwhelming, but they will pass.
How someone behaves in this brief window is as unique as the individual themselves. But there are signs you can look out for.