Trigger warning: Suicide
Hello and a happy Friday to you,
For me, Digby the dog was the highlight of this week’s uplifting stories. The therapy dog helped save a woman’s life when she was feeling suicidal. Digby was brought along by a Devon and Somerset fire crew as police negotiators were trying to help the woman near Exeter. The woman was asked whether she would like to meet Digby and it seems that distracted her from thoughts of taking her own life. I love his kind eyes.
I know from my own experience of suicidal feelings that in those dark moments, trying to focus on something else can be a saviour. Earlier this year, I was feeling very desperate. I searched online for help and came across Shout, a mental health text support service available in the UK. You can text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 and talk to someone. To have someone listen to me and hear me really helped me move through that particular crisis and in that moment I preferred to write it down rather than speak. Anyone who needs support can also call the Samaritans on 116 123. If you ever feel suicidal, please try and hold onto the fact that it really will pass and you will feel better. And it’s really brave to ask for help.
I have decided to share this snippet of my life because I want people who feel similar to know they are not alone and it will get better. Someone else I admire who has been sharing their mental health journey is BBC radio producer Charlie Smith.
I hope you enjoy this week’s good news stories.
Have a lovely weekend,
Becky x
Uplifting News Stories
Asda To Launch Packaging-Free Zones Across More Stores | The i
Egyptian Vulture Seen In UK For First Time In 150 years | BBC
Orchid Thought To Be Extinct Discovered On London Bank Rooftop | Independent
Features Worth Sharing
32 Times We'll All Be A Bit Amanda From Motherland As We Come Out Of Lockdown | HuffPost UK
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 4 Finally Has A UK release Date | Stylist
Please Stop Saying “Natural” When Discussing Childbirth | Refinery 29
What Happens When Your Instinct is ‘Unmaternal’? | Fearless She Wrote
This is The Uplift, a weekly newsletter by me, journalist Becky Barnes. If you enjoyed it, or my podcast, feel free to buy me a coffee.
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A bit about me: I’m a journalist living in London. You can find me on Twitter and Instagram.