Dan Hicks, a North Carolina police officer, was on his way home after work when he responded to a call about a man sitting on a bridge above a North Carolina highway on Wednesday.
The man was sitting on the edge of the bridge, with just one arm around the railing. Hicks struck up a conversation with the man who eventually took his hand. The man stepped off of the bridge and was given a hug from Hicks.
"He got a big old Dan Hicks hug whether he wanted it or not," Hicks said.
Not many words were exchanged between the two men, but an embrace was all that was necessary. The man was later taken to a local facility for medical attention. This event took place on September 9, just a few short hours away from World Suicide Prevention Day. A video of the encounter was captured by a Department of Transportation traffic camera. The sentimental video has gone viral.
Read the full story or watch the video here.
1.) If you were in Hicks position what would you do?
2.) What would you do if someone you knew had suicidal thoughts?
This week is ICare Week. Please know that your actions and words can and do affect others. Love thy neighbor.
My Opinion
If I were Hicks on that Wednesday afternoon, I would try to talk the man off of the bridge. I would embrace him. I would also make sure that all of the necessary medical attention had been given to the man and check on him from time to time. I would try to contact his family or loved ones, so someone the man loved could help him through a hard time. What Hicks did was very compassionate and not something you see every day. I would immediately try to talk to them. I would tell their parents and be very open-minded. I would make sure that they knew I was there for them.
Replies
Outstanding job AJ. This is the model all others should try to follow as forum post leader.
I would definitely step in and try to talk them out of it. If this was a family or friend, I would do exactly the same. Life is so precious and its important that everyone knows how precious it is.
Life is extremely precious! We only have one shot at it and we should make the most we have while we have it! Life is a beautiful thing and everyone needs to experience sitting on a porch with their grandchildren telling stories or watching sunsets. Life changes and we need to accept that fact and become stronger.
If I was in Hicks position, I would do the same thing he did, especially since his job is to protect his community. It would definitely be hard, but it's something that needs to be done. If someone that I knew had suicidal thoughts, I would definitely try to either talk them out of it myself, or get them to the help that they need. This whole topic is very serious and I think it's great that we have ICare Week to help educate us about it!
I would just like to add that Hicks is doing an excellent job of protecting his community! He was off-duty at the time of this incident! ICare Week is wonderful! Suicide is such a taboo subject, but we need to talk about it so we can support and help others! ICare shows us we all matter and make an impact, big or small, and that we can change the world!
If I was Hicks, I would have definitely tried to talk to the man to make him see reason, and I wouldn't leave until he stepped off the bridge. I would then take him to a hospital so the man would learn to cope with his problems and seek therapy. If someone I knew had suicidal thoughts, I would immediately tell their parents or loved ones so they could get help, regardless if the person wanted me to or not.
You can't keep suicide a secret because it threatens lives. You almost need to check up on the victims to make sure that they aren't contemplating suicide again or that they aren't running away from their problems, but facing them. I wouldn't make them step foot on another bridge again until I knew they were stable.
If I was Hicks, I would drive up slowly and get out and just talk to him. I would walk closer and closer to the person. But not to fast because he might panic and jump. Just tell him that sometimes life is rough. You just have to pick yourself up.
Encouraging words are needed and you should approach unstable people with caution and an extended hand and heart reaching out to help them during their time of greatest need. Suicide is not to be taken lightly! Please handle all situations carefully!
If I were in Hicks position, I would've done the same thing. If I knew someone was having suicidal thoughts, I would most definitely do my best to talk him out of it.
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