A MAN has died after falling from a bridge on the East Lancashire Road.

Officers were called to a section of the road today (Friday, October 25) at around 1.20pm.

Motorists are being asked to avoid the area as emergency services are at the scene and a road closure is currently in place near its junction with Rainford Road. 

Traffic reports state that the dual-carriageway is closed both ways from Moss Bank Road to Windle Island.

A Merseyside Police spokesperson confirmed a man had fallen from a bridge and had died.

A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a road closure remains in place on the East Lancashire Road in St Helens after a man fell from a bridge this afternoon, Friday 25 October.
 
“The incident was reported to us at around 1.20pm and emergency services remain at the scene carrying out enquiries.
 
“Sadly, the man was pronounced deceased and his next of kin are being notified and will be supported by specialist officers. More updates will be provided when appropriate.
 
“A road closure is currently in place near its junction with Rainford Road. We ask motorists to avoid the area and find an alternative route while the incident is being dealt with. Thank you for your patience.
 
“If you witnessed this incident or have any information, please contact @MerPolCC or 101 with reference 445 of Friday 25 October.”

Mental health support

Local support

Mersey Care - 24hr Mental Health Crisis Line

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust have a 24hr mental health crisis line for St Helens, Knowsley, Warrington and Halton: FREEPHONE 0800 051 1508

Children and Adolescent 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Response Team

This Mersey Care service is available for children and young people up to the age of 18, who are registered with a GP in Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and Warrington. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. CALL: 01744 415 640

Visit the Mersey Care website for more information.

NHS 111

Anyone needing urgent mental health support can now call NHS 111 and select the mental health option for 24/7 access to urgent support.

OK TO ASK

The OK TO ASK campaign is a local initiative which encourages everyone in St Helens to NOT be afraid to talk about suicide prevention - in order to help save the lives of those who might be.

By spotting and recognising the signals, breaking down stigma and silence and learning what to do when you think someone you know wants to end their own life, we can all help prevent suicide.

Visit the OK TO ASK campaign website for more information and for details of support services.

St Helens Wellbeing Service

St Helens Wellbeing Service provide a number of initiatives to support wellbeing:

Online training: one-hour sessions via Microsoft Teams on topics such as 5 Ways to Wellbeing, stress and anxiety, and basic suicide awareness. 

Men's Wellbeing Project: FREE activities for men to help boost wellbeing.

Happy to Chat benches: located at various sites across St Helens, the Happy to Chat benches provide a place for people to stop and chat with others.

Talking Therapies

Talking Therapies offers free NHS therapy for people registered with a St Helens GP with common mental health problems such as anxiety, stress or depression. Visit the Mersey Care website for more information.

Parents in Mind

If you are feeling low, anxious, disinterested in your usual activities and are pregnant or within two years of giving birth, then the Parents in Mind's friendly, welcoming support may be for you. They provide support groups where you can meet others going through similar experiences, seek information, talk things through, or simply relax. Visit the Parents in Mind website for more information.

ChatHealth

ChatHealth is a confidential text messaging service for young people aged 11-19 in St Helens. Led by the School Nursing Service (part of the 0-19+ Service in St Helens), young people aged 11-19 can access confidential advice and support from school nurses via text on a range of health and wellbeing issues.

ChatHealth is available between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday (including school holidays and excluding bank holidays) and is accessed by texting 07312263250. Visit the 0-19+ Service website for more information.

Thrive

In St Helens we have a wide range of services available to support children and young people's emotional and mental wellbeing. Support is available within the community as well as in local education settings. Most of the services are available for children and young people aged 0-18 years old, but some offer support for children and young people with SEND up to age 25.

Visit the Thrive website to find the service that can best support you and your needs. If you have any queries about any of the services listed, please contact the service directly who will be happy to help.

MENtal Strength

A pocket guide has been developed in partnership with the Think Fast Academy to support men with their mental health. View the MENtal Strength guide.

HIMvisible

HIMvisible is a St Helens-based mental health awareness group, making the invisible struggles of men in this world visible. Visit the HIMvisible website for more information.

Standing Tall Foundation

The Standing Tall Foundation is a charity based in St Helens, founded in 2020 by Andy Reid MBE and John F Tabern MSc. They promote the mental health and physical wellbeing of all community groups, by providing free professional support and services. Visit the Standing Tall Foundation website for more information.

Andy's Man Club

Andy's Man Club run talking groups for men who have either been through a storm, are currently going through a storm, have a storm brewing in life or just want to meet a good group of people with the aim of improving one another. No referral, no registration and no charge. Even the brew and biscuits are free! Visit the Andy's Man Club website for more information. 

Arts on Prescription

Creative Alternatives is an award-winning arts on prescription service that offers residents of St Helens the opportunity to access a FREE programme that is centred around creative activities, wellbeing and self-care. Visit the Creative Alternatives website for more information.

Reading Well

The Reading Well scheme helps people manage their own health and wellbeing through recommended self-help books. Visit the Reading Well page for more information.

James' Place

James' Place provides free, life-saving therapy to suicidal men through a quick, safe and effective intervention that is available at the point of crisis in our centres in Liverpool, London and Newcastle. Together with our trained, professional therapists, we can help you understand how you got to the point of suicidal crisis, what is keeping the crisis going and importantly learn new ways of coping that will help if a similar set of circumstances arises in the future. We support men, including individuals who identify as male, aged 18+. You can refer yourself or a man you know, and we also accept referrals from GPs, mental health practitioners, and other voluntary organisations across the Northeast, Northwest and Greater London. Visit the James' Place website for more information. 

National support

Samaritans

Samaritans provide a free-to-call service which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year if you want to talk to someone in confidence. Call Samaritans on 116 123

StayAlive app

The StayAlive app is a suicide prevention resource for the UK, packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in a crisis.

Google Play: http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.org.suicideprevention.stay alive

App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stay-alive/id915458967

Calm Harm app

Calm Harm is a free app that helps you manage or resist the urge to self-harm. Visit the Calm Harm website for more information.

HOPELINEUK

HOPELINEUK is for children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide or for anyone who is concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide. Call HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141

Text SHOUT to 85258

Shout 85258 is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. They support people who are anxious, stressed, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed and who need immediate support. Accessible to all ages - text SHOUT to 85258

Kooth

Kooth is an online counselling and emotional wellbeing platform for children and young people aged 11-25 years, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop. The service is anonymous and free at the point of use. Visit the Kooth website for more information.

Qwell

Qwell is an online emotional wellbeing and mental health support service for adults. It is a confidential service where adults can anonymously access therapy and self-help content, with links to other appropriate services. Visit the Qwell website for more information.

Hub of Hope

The Hub of Hope is a UK mental health support database. It is provided by national mental health charity Chasing the Stigma, and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place. Visit the Hub of Hope website for more information.

Every Mind Matters

Feeling stressed, anxious, low or struggling to sleep? Every Mind Matters can help with expert advice, practical tips and personalised actions to help stay on top of your mental wellbeing.

Every Mind Matters also provides a free mind plan; by answering a few questions you can get your own personalised mental health action plan with tips and advice to help you be kind to your mind.

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) are taking a stand against suicide by provoking conversation, running life-saving services, and bringing people together so they reject living miserably, get help when they need it and don't die by suicide. Visit the CALM website for more information.

Support for veterans, service leavers and reservists

NoDuff

NoDuff provide mental health support for serving and former service personnel. Visit the NoDuff website for more information.

NHS - Op COURAGE

Op COURAGE is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families.

You can contact the service in many ways, including: directly getting in touch yourself, or through a family member or friend - for the North of England call 0300 373 3332 or email OpCourageNORTH@cntw.nhs.uk asking a GP or other healthcare representative to refer you asking a charity to refer you

The NHS website also provides information about other mental health support for veterans, service leavers, reservists, families and carers.

Samaritans Veterans

Samaritans Veterans is a free app that can provide you with emotional support after your career in the Armed Forces. Visit the Samaritans website for more information.