Therapy dog helps woman who thought to kill herself.
(CNN) -
A therapy dog played an important role in saving a woman who was thinking about taking her own life on a bridge over a motorway in the United Kingdom, according to first responders who came to the scene.
Digby normally helps firefighters in therapy sessions deal with trauma.
But in this case, the 3-year-old Labradoodle was brought to the scene Tuesday where crews were trying to help a woman on a bridge near Exeter, in south-west England, according to the Fire and Service Service. Devon and Somerset Rescue (DSFRS).
The DSFRS reported in a tweet about his heroism: 'This is Digby.
He did something amazing today and helped save a young woman who was thinking of taking her own life on a bridge over the M5 near Exeter. '
"The police negotiators were talking to the woman but the situation was becoming more and more worrying."
So one of the fire crews suggested calling Digby, a "reassuring" dog who typically helps firefighters in therapy sessions cope with trauma, the service explained.
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When Digby arrived, the young woman immediately turned her head to look at him and smiled.
This sparked a conversation about Digby and his role in the fire service, ”the Twitter thread continued.
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"They asked him if he'd like to come meet Digby if he got off the railing, which we're happy to say he did."
The DSFRS said it wished the woman "all the best in her recovery."
The use of dogs to help humans overcome trauma is becoming more popular.
In April, Clarence, a 150-pound Saint Bernard, became America's first Police Officer Comfort Dog.
He spent the week roaming the halls of Congress with Keeva, an Akita, and the chocolate lab Hank.
Clarence, who is with the Greenfield, Massachusetts, Police Department, has been at the scene of some of the worst tragedies in the country: Sandy Hook, the Las Vegas shootings, the Boston Marathon and the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting. Pittsburgh.
And therapy dogs have also aided doctors in the fight against coronavirus.
One example is Loki, a two-year-old Rottweiler therapy dog, or "dogtor," who began doing therapy sessions for staff at the University of Maryland Medical Center in December 2019.
See here the lines of attention and prevention of suicide in Latin America and Spain
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How to get help for someone who might commit suicide
Call 1-800-273-8255 in the United States to reach the National Suicide Prevention Line. Provides free and confidential assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for people in suicidal or distressed crisis. You can learn more about their services here, including their guide on what to do if suicidal signs are identified on social media. You can also call 1-800-273-8255 to speak with someone about how you can help someone in crisis. Call 1-866-488-7386 for TrevorLifeline, a suicide prevention counseling service for the LGBTQ community.
For assistance outside of the US, the International Association for Suicide Prevention provides a global directory of international resources and hotlines.
You can also turn to Befrienders Worldwide.
Check this link: cnne.com/ayuda
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