Three 'jump' incidents averted in Ballymena district in just six days

Between Saturday, May 22, and last Thursday, May 27, officers from the PSNI and NI Fire and Rescue Service attended two separate rooftop incidents at properties in the town and were also tasked along with ambulance personnel, in another incident, to the M2 Ballymena by-pass where, it is understood, a woman threatened to throw herself off a bridge.

The latter incident, on Thursday of last week, resulted in traffic chaos in and around the town for several hours after the southbound carriageway of the M2 Ballymena by-pass was closed by the PSNI while the emergency services attended to the woman who the police have described as being “in distress”.

A DRD spokesperson said Roads Service liaised with the PSNI in relation to traffic diversions.

The PSNI received calls at around 2.30pm from a number of members of the public who spotted the woman, who is understood to be from the town’s Eastern European community, at Crebilly Bridge.

She was helped down from the bridge some five hours later at about 7.30pm and taken to hospital for a check-up.

Just three days earlier, on Monday, May 24, at 4pm, the emergency services were called to the Fairhill Shopping Centre after a man was spotted high up on the multi-storey car park.

A PSNI spokesman told the Times that the man, who he described as being “in a distressed state”, was taken to Antrim Area Hospital by police.

And on Saturday, May 22, at 1am, police officers on patrol in the Smithfield area noticed a man on top of a flat roof who, according to a PSNI spokesman, “threatened to jump”.

A Fire Service appliance was tasked to the scene but police say the man “climbed down of his own accord and ran off”.

Meanwhile, the Northern Heath and Social Care Trust has just launched a new leaflet aimed at helping those bereaved by suicide.

Entitled ‘Have you, or someone you know been bereaved by suicide?’, the leaflet will explain the services offered by the Northern Trust to the relatives and friends of those who have taken their own life.

Danielle Gallagher, Bereaved by Suicide Project Worker for the Northern Trust area, said, “The leaflet will be distributed to community and voluntary groups, members of the clergy, the PSNI and the emergency services. These will then be available to the bereaved and to those working with the bereaved.

“We want to identify and assist groups already offering support to the bereaved, particularly those dealing with the relatives of people who have taken their own life. We hope this leaflet will reach the groups we don’t know about.

“For the bereaved themselves, the leaflet gives contact details of the bereaved by suicide project worker in their area. They can contact project workers in confidence and get details of support groups and the individual counselling services available.

“The leaflet also includes contact details for other organisations that can help.”

Dealing with bereavement through suicide is challenging because of the range and depth of emotions different people will experience. These are often accompanied by questions as to 'why' it has happened. By raising awareness of the help available, it is hoped the Bereaved by Suicide Project will also encourage people who are finding it hard to cope to seek support.

If you would like more information about a bereavement support group in your area, or to be referred to the individual counselling services, please contact Danielle on 028 2563 6607 or the bereaved by suicide information leaflet can be found on the website www.northerntrust.hscni.net.