A truck driver has been praised for preventing a man from jumping off a bridge.

A photograph of the incident was posted to Facebook yesterday (June 10), by Vulnerable Citizen Support Leeds, and it revealed how the kindness of one stranger potentially saved a life.

But it also shed light on the difficulties that many face in accessing the help they need before reaching breaking point.

The page wrote: "What people don't understand is that to jump on the other side of any bridge - indicates something drastically wrong with [their] mental health."

[[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/Homelesssupportnetwork/posts/4506458629387490]]

The post continues: "I have family who have been at this point before and still had to wait a week for an appointment when she found herself on top of a bridge.

"This post is to raise that awareness that - IT'S OKAY - NOT TO BE OKAY - and you can or should speak out.

"What a trucker - stopping on the hard shoulder and leaving his truck there - to ensure when he did jump - it wasn't a longer distance to the floor."

People were quick to take to the comments section of the Facebook post to praise the truck driver's actions.

One Facebook user wrote: "What a great guy that trucker is to help like this. I hope help has been found to support this man. Not a nice place to be at all. Lonely and frightening."

A Facebook comment. [[imagecaption|| Credit: Facebook / Melissa Broxton]]

A second added: "Well done to the lorry driver. we need more ppl like him!! Hope this guy gets the help that he needs ii feel his pain?! I’m still waiting for help! I thank the lorry driver for stopping and talk too this guy [sic]."

A Facebook comment. [[imagecaption|| Credit: Facebook / Sammie Smith]]

A third wrote: "Well done to the lorry driver it brings back some faith in humans mental health issues are awful and we need better support rather than let it get to this stage x"

A Facebook comment. [[imagecaption|| Credit: Facebook / Cheryl L Holland]]

Meanwhile, a fourth revealed that they lost their brother in this way and that it's inactive of the help available to those struggling with their mental health in the UK.

They wrote: "[My] brother tried twice before doing it and still got no help, we all begged but nothing, Cos he could wash and iron a shirt so they didn’t think he was that bad, the idea that someone has to look rock bottom to be at rock bottom doesn't seem to sink in, even for 'professionals' it's shocking the level of 'care' there is."

A Facebook comment. [[imagecaption|| Credit: Facebook / Emma Hazeldine]]

Hopefully, the man in the picture receives the help he deserves.

Anyone can contact Samaritans FREE any time from any phone on 116 123, even a mobile without credit. This number won’t show up on your phone bill. Or you can email jo@samaritans.org.

You can follow Samaritans on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Find out how you can support The Samaritans or volunteer with us here.

You can also reach out to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1800 273 8255.

Featured image credit: Alamy / Pixel-shot

Truck driver praised for stopping under man threatening to jump off bridge