We’ve all heard it said that a little kindness can go a long way, but for Paige Hunter, her simple acts have gone as far as to save lives — by stopping people from committing suicide.
The 18-year-old from England who suffers from anxiety and PTSD depression is all too familiar with the pressing desire to end your life to make the pain go away.
“I went through a trauma and trying to cope with the impact of the trauma completely destroyed me,” she told Love What Matters.
The trauma tormented her so deeply, in fact, that she once made an attempt to end it all for good. She didn’t want to die, but it was the only way she knew how to make the pain stop:
“I remember standing on the edge of the bridge thoughts racing through my mind over and over. I didn’t want to die I only wanted the pain that I was going through to stop. I couldn’t handle to see another flashback from my past. The not wanting to get out of bed on a morning or not wanting to go out with friends in case I had a bad turn from panic attacks to flashbacks. Every step took me closer and closer to the edge where even my thoughts began to slow down. Then, all I heard was the police and ambulances coming who helped me change my mind.”
She was so ashamed of her past demons by the age of 18 that she felt her life was not even worth living, but she soon realized just how wrong she was:
“I was wrong; every life is precious and you are worth so much more than you think. I now don’t let my past define my future but instead embrace what I have been through.”
Now Paige has made an effort to be a light in the darkness for those who are struggling with self-worth and suicidal thoughts the way that she did.
“Wondering whether your life is worth living is absolutely terrifying and lonely,” she said. “I didn’t want others to feel like there is no one to help, to talk and support them through these feelings.”
With a passionate desire to prove the worth of every life, she started putting brightly colored notes on bridges, specifically the one where she almost took her own life: Wearmouth Bridge.
Photo Credit: Paige Hunter
Each note holds an encouraging phrase like, “Fight with all you have, tomorrow is a better day” and “You have the power to say, ‘This is not how my story will end.’”
Photo Credit: Paige Hunter
Photo Credit: Paige Hunter
“I have placed 40 of these notes to show that it is actually alright to not be okay. I hope that these quotes just help that one person to not commit suicide and know that they are worthy of living.”
Photo Credit: Paige Hunter
“I think the notes have helped save so many people,” said Paige. “When they have seen that a stranger has placed notes on a bridge to help them stop and think about it, they know there are people who want to help and who care. One person said ‘the notes helped because they had given me hope and to see that someone had been in the same situation come out shining and wanting to help others it made me think that actually, yeah things will get better.’”
In an anonymous post by Sunderlandnow, one person shared a story about how Paige helped save his/her life:
“I want to say a massive THANKYOU!! to the young girl paige hunter for not only saving one life but for saving 2 and probably many more. At 6pm i went down to the bridge with every intention of ending my life to not only find when i get there bright coloured notes at least 40 each side. As i was about to climb over i stopped at a sign that said ‘be STRONG because things will get better, it may be stormy now but it never rains forever’ and alot more. If it was not for paige i would have been at the bottom of the river and my family would have been broken. So THANKYOU!!! You are a beautiful young lady with heart of gold and deserve recognition for doing what you did.“
Facebook
Paige feels blessed to know that her simple messages of encouragement are empowering people to choose life at a time when they most desperately need it.
Kudos to this inspiring teen who is making a difference in our world one brightly-colored note at a time!
If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental illness, please know you are not alone. Suicide is completely preventable. There is hope. PLEASE reach out if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, or fear that someone you love might be.
