Dean of Southwark joins an early morning walk around.

Early on Tuesday morning, the Dean, Mark Oakley, joined Bridge Watch, the suicide intervention team, as they walked the bridges of central London.

Incidents involving people suffering mental crisis and indicating intent to enter the water from the bridges are increasing. Bridge Watch aims to provide a ‘physical presence’ of teams of volunteers that ‘patrol’ the areas on and around the bridges of London with a brief to engage with anybody indicating intent to enter the water and to provide appropriate support.

The Dean commented: ‘It was a privilege to spend time with some of the team and to learn about the many stories in people’s lives that can lead them to a bridge. The excellent volunteers of Bridge Watch embody hope when it is most needed, and they do this in a non-judgemental and positive spirit. London is lucky to have them.’

To learn more about Bridge Watch, visit their website: Home - Bridge Watch