A police officer in south east London is urging people struggling with their mental health to reach out for help after she ended up helping a woman who was considering taking her own life whilst off duty.

PC Michelle Worden, based in south east London, was simply driving to work on Thursday, July 9, when she noticed a woman pacing up and down on a roadside and "looking in distress."

The police officer said that as she drove past, "I realised something wasn’t quite right, and I couldn’t carry on driving knowing that. She was pacing up and down and looked distressed.

“I think policing instinct helps you spot a problem and you know, in a split second, that you have to act quickly."

PC Worden pulled over and spoke to the woman, and they went for a walk.

She said she ended up gently talking to the woman, calming her, before then taking her back to her family.

“I think it was meant to be that I was driving past at the same time that she was in distress, and I’m so relieved that I was there to help her and reunite her with her family.

"I spoke with her loved ones and she sounds like an amazing woman, and I’m just so pleased to have been there to help in whatever way I can."

An ambulance was called once the woman was safely home, and she is now receiving appropriate support and care.

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PC Worden, who has been a police officer for nine years, is now imploring anyone who is having issues with their mental health to reach out for help.

"If anyone out there is struggling or you know someone who is, please know that there is help out there, and there are lots of people who want to support them.”

BCU Commander Rob Atkin of the South East Command Unit added: “This goes to show that an officer is never off duty, and I’m so proud of Michelle for stepping in and going the extra mile to help someone.”

If you, or someone you know, is struggling the Samaritans is open every day, 24/7, and can be contacted on 116 123 or https://www.samaritans.org/