THE power of signs appearing on bridges to dissuade people from taking their own life has come to the fore in very personal style for the two leaders of the project.

The Basingsigns for Mental health Facebook group has, over the past three weeks, plastered positive, hand-written messages on bridges across the town with the aim to try to stop people contemplating suicide from jumping.

Now, despite some signs appearing to have been torn down, organisers behind the campaign have found potentially at least two people who decided not to jump from bridges after seeing the signs.

On Thursday, project leaders Natalie Smith and Laurain Mosdell were putting up Basingsigns at the bridge near Milestones Museum when they were approached by a woman.

Natalie, who has had her own battles with mental health, said: “She has cancer and said she went over the Leisure Park bridge to jump and saw one of our signs there. That sign saved her life. We had goosebumps when she told us that.”

The group has also been contacted to say that a sign over a bridge in Chineham had prevented a man from taking his own life.

Natalie added: “That is why we are doing this - we said if it saved one life it would be worth it but it has been two in two weeks, it looks like.

“It is an incredible feeling.”

Hearing these stories has reinforced the commitment to the Basingsigns project after it appears signs were torn down from bridges in Popley, South Ham and the Worting Road areas.

Natalie added: “It is disheartening to see and a lot of people have questioned why it is being done.

“But hearing from those people to have been helped is why we will be carrying on with this.”

The plan is to go further with the scheme in the hope of setting up a drop-in safe space in Basingstoke for vulnerable people to be welcomed at to boost mental health provision in the town.

To join the group and find out more search for ‘Basingsigns for Mental health’ on Facebook. And to help financially, go to crowdfunder.co.uk/inspirational-mental-health-quotes-for-bridges-/.

Anyone experiencing symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts can contact Samaritans on 116 123 or at samaritans.org.