https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😔" title="Nachdenkliches Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Nachdenkliches Gesicht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😭" title="Laut schreiendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Laut schreiendes Gesicht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💙" title="Blaues Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Blaues Herz">
(sharing with permission)

Tonight, a senior (police) leader thanked me for saving his life. Though I didn& #39;t know it, when we spoke a few weeks ago, he was in his car ready to kill himself. He& #39;d written his notes, said "bye" to his kids & uniform packed away.

I called just to check in, as I often do with my officers & though I knew he was struggling, we also laughed through his tears &he said nothing that truly alarmed me. Job don& #39;t know but he& #39;s in counselling & spoken to a couple of his mates who& #39;ve thankfully been supportive.

We& #39;ve spoken since that night & still didn& #39;t know until he told me. He thanked me because our chat helped him understand why he was struggling & that there was no shame in needing support. He& #39;s got a difficult road ahead & is still struggling but is determined to face it.

It wasn& #39;t the trauma of the Job that almost cost his life but severe life stressors & attitudes of mental health/illness from his team/management. "I don& #39;t remember the last time anyone asked how I was when it wasn& #39;t dictated by a fucking questionnaire!" This isn& #39;t good enough!

I share this for 4 reasons:
1. sometimes there are no signs for suicide
2. men continue to suffer in silence
3. call your mates
4. everyone& #39;s so busy pushing formal support to cover their legal liability, they ignore the power of informal conversations in changing &saving lives.

I am in awe of & humbled by his honesty & strength to continue living, to seek help & to take the time to thank me when all I did was make a call he didn& #39;t have to answer.

My men mean the world to me https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏🏻" title="Folded hands (heller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands (heller Hautton)">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🥺" title="Pleading face" aria-label="Emoji: Pleading face">

"You can& #39;t help everyone but everyone can help someone"