Blog: Your life is worth living

On October 31, officers were dispatched to a 911 call where a man was threatening to hang himself from a third floor fire escape.

Officers arrived to find a man in his 30’s securing an extension cord to the rail, the other end tied tightly around his neck.

One of the officers engaged the man in conversation from the ground, to which the man responded there was nothing he could say or do to stop him from jumping.

The second officer made his way undetected onto the fire escape. The officer below spoke loudly to cover his partner’s approach. Just as the man leaned forward, the officer grabbed him and held on.

The man was taken to the hospital for assessment and care.

The officer who put his own safety as risk to prevent the man from jumping had this to say:

“Everyone’s life is worth living. Problems can be solved. Help is available.”

If you are struggling, try one of these 24 hour resources:

Ottawa Distress Line  – 613-238-3311

Mental Health Crisis Line Ottawa  – 613-722-6914

Youth Services Bureau Crisis Line – 613-260-2360