Messages of hope left at bridge by suicidal dad
A BODYBUILDER has left heartfelt messages across a notorious bridge to help others after attempting to take his own life.
Dad of three, Alastair Wilson, contemplated ending his life in July after suffering from “bad bouts of depression”.
The 31-year-old headed to the Cartland Bridge in Lanark and said he thought “why shouldn’t I just jump?”
Thankfully, Alistair managed to convince himself to not jump from the 39-metre high bridge.
Alastair, from Lanark, has now revisited the spot to put up messages of “love, hope and support” to try and stop anyone else thinking of committing suicide.
Alastair, who works for a leisure centre and has suffered from depression since he was 18-years-old said: “I stood there waiting for someone to stop me from doing it.
“Somehow I didn’t jump and I ended up just leaving.
“But I then heard that someone else who got there 10 minutes after me had taken their own life.
“I just feel really low at times and without the right support or even a doctor cancelling my appointment, it would make me feel as if I am not good enough to get treatment.”
But once Alastair left the bridge he came up with the creative idea to design kind messages which he believes would have helped him had he seen them on the bridge.
Alastair constructed 20 signs with numbers for Breathing Space, an organisation run by NHS 24 which provides help to people with mental health issues.
He explained: “I managed to make 20 little cards and cover 20 of them with a range of subjects. I got them all laminated and spread them all over the bridge.
“They all have a number for Breathing Space on them.
“I just felt like it was a good idea because if I can save one person from doing it then I guess I would have done the right thing.”