Samaritans and Network Rail join forces to reduce suicide on the railways

In January 2010, Samaritans and Network Rail launched a pioneering five-year partnership to reduce the number of suicides on the railways.  The partnership features a programme of prevention and post-incident activities. This includes: bespoke training of railway industry staff and British Transport Police the development of a local branch call-out service to provide emotional support to people in distress at railway sites support to rail staff and members of the public who have witnessed a fatality.  Watch these short videos from a range of frontline rail staff including: a driver who witnessed a suicide a station assistant who intervened with someone who was suicidal thoughts about the benefits of the partnership.

Further information Download Media Briefing View press release

Paul picked up the award for 'Train Driver of the Year' at the RailStaff awards in 2011. This award is great recognition for him by the rail industry and will also help us to promote our outreach work on the railways.

Paul was also one of our speakers at Samaritans' Annual Conference and spoke about how he was involved in a fatality a couple of years ago, but instead of letting it have a long term negative impact on his life, he instead decided to dedicate his efforts in helping prevent suicides and assisting colleagues that have been involved in events themselves.

Through East Midlands Trains, Paul has been assisting Samaritans in development of training courses and education material.

Station staff's story Lisa Clay, a Customer Services Assistant at a station, talks about how the Samaritans course has given her the confidence and skills to successfully intervene when a woman at the station was suicidal.  View Lisa's vodcast

Staff and volunteer's story Mark Goodall, a Network Rail manager who also volunteers for Samaritans, discusses how the partnership with Network Rail has helped challenge attitudes that railway suicides are always inevitable. View Mark's vodcast

Samaritans trainer's story Steve Tollerton works for Samaritans and leads training sessions for railway staff.  He speaks about how the courses run by Samaritans give staff a range of skills useful when someone is suicidal.  Other rail staff also talk about how the Samaritans course has benefitted them.   View Steve's vodcast

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