A mental health campaigner is calling for more to be done to help people in distress after emergency services were called to yet another welfare incident on the Itchen Bridge.

Andy Bishop, the founder of Southampton men’s mental health charity Mangang, is appealing for the council to work with the community to understand the reasons that might drive people to take their own life.

It comes after police and paramedics rushed to the Itchen Bridge twice on Wednesday afternoon.

Daily Echo: Emergency services on the Itchen Bridge on Wednesday afternoonEmergency services on the Itchen Bridge on Wednesday afternoon (Image: Newsquest)

Joining calls to improve safety on the bridge, Andy said: “In 2022, the council said they would spend the bulk of £3.8m worth of funding on suicide prevention measures – off the back of that, nothing has happened.

“People have suggested putting up a wall – suicide prevention does not start by throwing a wall or fence up, it starts with collaboration.

“That means the council and community coming together to understand why people resort to suicide.

“The help points might stop one or two people but the button needs to be pressed.

“If someone is at such a loss, they have to make the decision to press that button – sadly that is not always the case.”

Daily Echo: Andy said the council had not delivered on their 2022 pledgeAndy said the council had not delivered on their 2022 pledge (Image: NQ)

Andy, a former sergeant, attempted to take his own life in 2010 and again in 2012 after leaving the military.

In 2019, after years of battling his own demons, the 52-year-old health and safety consultant founded Mangang to help other people facing similar struggles.

In response to Wednesday's welfare incident, a spokesperson for Southampton City Council said: “As part of the Itchen Bridge Maintenance Project, we are looking to improve the drainage and surfacing of the bridge whilst also re-considering the layout of the carriageways and footways to improve road safety.

“Further safety measures are also being considered within this work scheme, which includes a redesign of the parapets to ensure the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and to prevent loss of life.

“The Itchen Bridge is not one of the strategic routes into the city, and is primarily for local journeys, connecting Southampton’s south-eastern communities with the city centre.

“The SmartCities card is available to Southampton residents to access the discounted toll for the bridge to support residents in making those local journeys and the card can also function as the senior persons or disabled persons bus pass, Get Active subscription, and library card, as required.”

If you are affected by any issues mentioned in this report, contact the Samaritans 24/7 on the free helpline 116 123.