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How Snapchat helped save woman from dramatic suicide attempt

A young mum has said she owes her life to Snapchat after a friend used it to track her location when she became suicidal.

Rehanne Burton, a 32-year-old mum of two, from Derbyshire in England, was rescued by her friend Sammie Jo, after she spotted that her friend was on top of a bridge while using the app’s 'Snap Maps' function.

Thanks to Sammie's quick thinking and checking the messaging app, she was able to call emergency services to help Rehanne, as she contemplated jumping from the A52 Wynsene Bridge in March 2019.

The app tracks users' locations and shows them on a map, using characters created by account holders - unless the user disables the function through 'ghost mode'.

Rehanne claims she had climbed onto the Derby bridge after she spiralled into self-harm as a result of post-natal depression and an abusive relationship.

A friend reportedly saw where she was and raised the alarm. Source: Caters News Agency
A friend reportedly saw where she was and raised the alarm. Source: Caters News Agency

‘You could say Snapchat saved my life’

The young mum believed her problems had become overwhelming but now credits Snapchat for saving her life.

“You could say Snapchat saved my life,” Rehanne said.

"The map meant Sammie was able to recognise that I was stood on a bridge and she immediately called emergency services.

"I had hit an emotional wall - I'd fallen into the habit of self-harm and had been rushed to A+E (emergency) to be met with the crisis team just hours before I climbed the bridge.

"I was there for four hours and was given anti-anxiety medication but I felt emotionless,” she recalled.

After being dismissed by medical authorities, she was allowed to walk home on her own.

"I put on my coat and trainers, left the house and walked to the A52 bridge. I was ready to give up and I had no idea my location was visible on Snap Maps,” she said.

"Sammie knew I hadn't been coping well lately with my depression as I'd spoken to her earlier that day. So when I showed up on the map near Wynsene Bridge, she knew.”

The woman leaves her location visible in the app because she uses it with her two young kids who are four and eight-years-old.

The Snapchat app is popular among teens.
The Snapchat app is popular among teens. Source: AAP

Woman praises hero cop

Rehanne was talked down from the bridge by a police officer who attended the scene, and believes the support offered to her since has been immense.

"I can't praise the police officer enough,” she said. "He told me he had been in the same situation before and that it does get better.

"Before the lead up to my attempted suicide I had felt as though I was always being judged by others around me.”

But now the mother is in a much better head space and wants to let others know that they too can weather the storm when it comes to depression.

"Now, I just want to get the message out there and, now I am, it feels like ripping off a band-aid from your arm,” she said.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.

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