Bridges of Hope - Longer lasting signs

Hi everyone, I am Jenna, mum of 3 from Lee on Solent. Alot of you are may already be aware of the mission I am on but for those who aren’t I will fill you in; I have suffered with depression my whole adult life. Throughout my twenties I started using alcohol to numb my depression but it obviously made it worse. When I was 30 I hit rock bottom and became suicidal. I thought of ways to end the daily pain. Luckily I got help before I acted upon it. I am now over 5 years into recovery. 

Unfortunately the pandemic has had a negative impact on those who do suffer with depression, meaning more suicides and there have been 20% more related alcohol deaths too.

I have been inspired by a group on Facebook called Bridges of Hope ran by amazing guy called Rocco Hawkins. 

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/253872322700672/ 

In 2019 Rocco was pulled off a bridge by the police, he was on the other side of railings and staring down at the motorway. He was treated in a mental health centre for 4 months and then made it his mission to try and help anyone else who finds them self in the same position, literally. He has now been putting messages of Hope on bridges in and around Derby for around a year and it has saved many lives. Someone in a mental health crisis might not even realise what they’re doing (Rocco didn’t know) & these messages of Hope act as a distraction and also make the reader feel like there is another way of getting out of pain, such as getting help, talking to a loved one, reaching out to someone in our group. We also put a 24/7 mental health crisis number on the bridge on each side. The messages also give people hope, such as ‘as long as your heart is still beating, there’s still time for your dreams’, or ‘you have the power to say my story doesn’t end here’. The signs might even just make someone smile if they’re walking past having a bad day

So far I have done 6 bridges in the South (around Fareham/ Whiteley). I recently went back to bridge number 1 and 8 out of the ten messages were quite badly weather damaged. I am therefore trying to raise funds to pay for longer lasting, more durable signs for the messages of Hope and I have been quoted £20 a bridge (10 A4 signs- 5 on each side of bridge) and the printers are only charging for the materials, they’re making them for free. 

I wish I could fund this myself but I can’t and if I had to keep doing laminates and going back and re-doing Bridges time after time I will do it as I believe this will save someone in their hour of need, but a few people now have suggested making a fundraiser as they want to help so here it is guys ☺️ 

If the amount raised goes over £200 it just means I can do more bridges with the longer lasting signs which is amazing!!! Together we’re stronger and together we can save a life or lives. What is more rewarding than that

Update: I have had messages already saying the signs have made a difference and helped people in their hour of need. Which melts my heart x Thank you to all who have donated and all who continue to support my mission x 

Thanks for reading and thanks for your ongoing support. It has blown me away