'A police officer saved me from taking my own life. Then he sent a follow up text'

"Hi Courtney. It's Jake.You might not remember me..." TW: This article contains mention of mental health issues and attempted suicide. 

Police go above and beyond. Source: TikTok

We know that the mental health of young adults is declining at an alarming rate. And while no parent wants things to progress this far, there are times when professional assistance may be required.

This may sound scary for both adults and children alike, but a recent text exchange shared online has exposed a new side to the police force which some parents are finding hopeful - and are sharing with their children as a result. 

In this case, Tiktoker @manyvoicesinside inadvertently went viral after posting messages she received from a police officer who assisted her with a mental health episode. 

"Hi Courtney. It's Jake, the police officer from the other night. You might not remember me due to the condition you were in, but my colleague and I were there to help save your life. I just wanted to check in and see how you're doing physically and mentally," the first text reads. 

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"I'm glad you're okay now"

Grateful to the officer, Courtney responded in kind.

"Thanks for messaging me. I'm doing okay after my treatment, and I've been put on a 'Section 2', which I'm not too happy about.

"I'm really sorry for any trouble I caused the other night."

What the officer said next is worth noting. 

"I'm glad you're okay now. If you ever need someone to chat with, you can always message or call this number - my work mobile.

"Please take care of yourself and accept the help you deserve."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, some people immediately jumped to the worst conclusion, stating that Jake was overstepping his duties as a police officer. 

Many others, however, took it as a sign to educate their kids that police aren't "scary" but exist in the community as a resource to help. Furthermore, that they do actually care. 

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"I probably scared him"

Certainly, Courtney took no issue with the texts. 

She posted the screenshots with the caption, "I don't see the problem of a police officer messaging me to see if I'm OK. I probably scared him, and he's seeing if I'm OK for his own peace of mind."

The overwhelming majority of comments agreed with her. 

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"Those messages are perfectly fine. They are professional but caring, something we don’t see often, so it is a breath of fresh air to see," one person responded. 

Another wrote: "He used his work number, not his personal. It’s allowed, and this was great community policing and showing compassion. Nothing wrong at all."

And yet another: "I'm not the police, but I work DV and SA cases, and when I get suicide attempts, I ALWAYS reach out to check in so they know people do care."

If you, or someone you know are feeling worried or no good, we encourage you to connect with 13YARN [13 92 76] and talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

A police officer weighs in

In care you're still on the fence in terms of what is and isn't appropriate, one comment from a purported police officer puts the issue at rest. 

"As a police officer, as long as this is the end of the messages then it’s absolutely fine and very compassionate! Good job Jake!"

Talk to your kids about police 

When was the last time you spoke to your children about the individual roles of emergency services? 

This might be the sign you're waiting for to discuss exactly how they contribute to the wider community, as well as the role they play in helping look after children and young adults. 

And remember to tell your kids that no matter who a text message is from, if they feel uncomfortable about it, they should tell a trusted adult. 

Originally published as 'A police officer saved me from taking my own life. Then he sent a follow up text'