Samaritans in Kingston are encouraging anyone feeling low to get in touch and talk through their issues in confidence.

The charity issued the reminder following the deaths of two people who fell from the same multi-storey car park in Kingston town centre this week.

Both men died after falling from Eden Walk car park on Monday and Tuesday.

Neither deaths are being treated as suspicious. Samaritans branch director Barry Fisher, 43, has been helping the charity for 15 years.

He said: “Suicide is a very complex issue and often there isn’t one main reason why someone decides to take their own life.

“Often it is a result of problems building up to the point where they can see no other way to cope with what they are experiencing.

“When a person reaches a point where they feel suicidal, they often lose sight of being able to work through their problems.

“They can feel completely consumed with hopelessness and often believe those around them will be better off if they are no longer here.

“Talking can really help a person to see a way through this and we would encourage anyone who is feeling low to reach out for help.”

Surrey Comet:

Mr Fisher also encouraged friends of people who may be having suicidal thoughts not to be put off from addressing the issues.

He said: “People are sometimes put off by not knowing the right thing to say, or fear they may say the wrong thing and make the person feel worse.

“There isn’t really a right or wrong thing to say in such situations.

“The best approach is simply to start that conversation with the person.

“Allowing them the space to talk and express how they are feeling is likely to be a relief and can often be the first important steps to seeking help. There is a myth that if you talk to a person about suicide, you may plant the idea in their head – this is a myth.”

Mr Fisher added Samaritans volunteers did not have all the answers or a “magical solution”, but could make each day more livable step by step.

He said: “We will give you that space, listen, care, you can talk in confidence and we won’t judge you.

“Talk it out.”

Kingston’s borough commander Glenn Tunstall, reiterated Samaritans’ message and urged anyone having suicidal thoughts to get in touch with the charity.

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He said: “On October 20 and October 21, there were two separate incidents where a person died as a result of falling from the upper floors of the Eden Walk car park.

“We do not believe these deaths are connected in any way and there are no suspicious circumstances.

“I would also like to thank my officers, some of which attended both incidents, as they displayed extreme professionalism in not only carrying out CPR on both persons, but also in the sensitive way they dealt with these tragic incidents.

“Finally, our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and I would like to remind any person who may be having suicidal thoughts to contact Samaritans for support.”