UNITED KINGDOM: British Samaritans Train 15,000 Railway Staff in Suicide Prevention
July 21, 2017
One in six British railway staff has received training in suicide prevention, according to the Samaritans organization. In collaboration with Network Rail and British Transport Police, Samaritans has trained 15,000 railway staff and transport police across the UK. Training consists of courses in how to identify and assist those at risk and support those who have been affected by railway suicide. British Transport Police data indicate that interventions have increased and suicide deaths have decreased on the railway network for the second year in a row. “One of our contributions is through the work of our suicide prevention and mental health teams, which have psychiatric nurses working alongside police officers and staff,” said Mark Smith, national suicide prevention and mental health lead for the British Transport Police. “These teams work with partners to help those people that come to the railway in mental health crisis or suicidal circumstances, access effective care pathways and get on the road to recovery.”
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