Our volunteers recently visited Rugby Station where they raised awareness of the work of Samaritans and the importance of talking and listening when people are finding things particularly difficult.
The visit was originally planned for the third Monday in January, Blue Monday – so called as it is claimed to be the most difficult day of the year. In response Samaritans started a campaign called Brew Monday to encourage people to reach out to loved ones, friends and colleagues and to chat over a cup of tea.
Volunteers Sarah and Mike handed out Brew Monday teabags to travellers
Despite being a few week’s late our staff were still able to give out plenty of tea bags to grateful commuters and station staff and our visit also coincided with another national initiative entitled Small Talk Saves Lives which aims to reduce suicide at railway stations and other public settings.
We all worry about saying the wrong things but often a little small talk can be all that’s needed to interrupt suicidal thoughts and start a person on a journey to recovery. Our message to people was to trust their instincts and start a conversation with someone who looks like they may need help.
Samaritans nationally works very closely with Network Rail and the wider rail industry to reduce suicide on the railways and to support everyone affected by them. Locally our branch regularly has a presence at stations right across Coventry and Warwickshire.