Latest news

Railway Safety Awareness
24/04/24
On Thursday 14th March, Network Rail and Samaritans held a joint engagement day at Luton Railway Station, raising awareness of the dangers on and…
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Samaritans rail programme marks World Suicide Prevention Day with events across network
11/10/23
Samaritans were on hand to provide people with vital support to mark World Suicide Prevention Day (Sunday, September 10). Regional Development Leads…
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Community Notice Board collaboration
25/09/23
Long standing close working relationships with the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Priority Sites Group has led to the installation of a community…
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Samaritans roadshows pitch up in Beeston and Dalmuir
22/08/23
Samaritans rail programme recently showcased their work to communities at roadshows in Beeston and Dalmuir. Volunteers from the Nottingham branch of…
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Southern REOs help send strong MESSAGE to passengers
21/07/23
A Multi-Establishment Safety, Security and Guidance Event (MESSAGE) was held at London Bridge station on Monday 19th June as part of a drive to raise…
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Life Saving work by the East Coast Main Line VITAL patrollers
23/06/23
The VITAL Unit are a team of 36 contracted patrollers and 1 manager who operate on the East Coast Main Line (ECML).  They are responsible for…
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Samaritans lead industry-wide survey into rail workers’ mental health
16/06/23
Two thirds of rail staff have experienced a change in their mental health, impacting their ability to carry on working, a survey has found. The…
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Train operators join forces to tackle anxiety for Mental Health Awareness week
30/05/23
Anglia route colleagues united in a display of solidarity during Mental Health Awareness Week. Led by Arifa Wadiwala, Anglia Mental Health nurse, and…
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Greater Manchester NHS Trust Mental Health support line posters
23/05/23
Following engagement with the NHS Trust and utilising national funding, 100 Foamex posters have been produced displaying the 24/7 Mental Health…
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Small Talks Saves Lives Across Southeastern
21/03/23
The Small Talk Saves Lives campaign, in partnership with Samaritans, Network Rail, British Transport Police and the wider rail industry, aims to…
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MP round table
28/02/23
On February 10th Richard Godwin Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator Network Rail NW&C Region and Dave Brown Senior Regional Development Lead…
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Gail Porter and Corrie Star team up with Samaritans for Small Talk Saves Lives
23/02/23
– New Samaritans survey shows only half of the nation feel confident approaching someone they are concerned about in public.   – To…
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Community Response Plan
05/01/23
The Rail Industry works closely with many Local Authorities and their Suicide Prevention Groups, and Public Health leads. NW&C Region recently…
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Hub of Hope in our stations
13/12/22
The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database. It is provided by national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, and…
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North Kent MIND at Gravesend Station for International Men’s Day
02/12/22
On Friday 18 November, the Southeastern Safeguarding Team and North Kent MIND joined forces and hosted a stall at Gravesend Station to raise…
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Rail Staff Awarded Inspiring Samaritans Lifesaver Accolade at Industry Awards
30/11/22
On Thursday 24th November, rail staff from across the industry were recognised for their inspiring contribution to suicide prevention at Rail Staff…
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Romford Hub
07/11/22
MTR Elizabeth line and London Borough of Havering launched an Innovation Hub on Friday 14th October 2022, by Romford station. The two storey Hub will…
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NW&C Region SHOUT trial
07/11/22
The rail industry has partnered with Shout as part of its wider efforts to encourage help seeking behaviour for anyone who may be struggling with…
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Samaritans on hand with a cuppa and a chat at East Coast Main Line stations this World Mental Health Day
25/10/22
On World Mental Health Day – Monday 10 October – Samaritans and rail partners Network Rail, and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), as well as…
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Launch of Mental Health Triage Unit
04/10/22
Today (4th October) see’s the launch of a new mental health triage unit on the North West route. The unit, that consists of a BTP officer,…
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Mental Health Charities and Rail Industry Unite For World Suicide Prevention Day Wellbeing Event In Edinburgh Waverley Station
13/09/22
On 7th September 2022, suicide prevention charity Samaritans and Network Rail joined forces with mental health charities to hold a wellbeing event to…
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Creating Hope Through Action This World Suicide Prevention Day 2022
09/09/22
Each death by suicide has a profound impact on loved ones, friends and family, colleagues, witnesses (when applicable) and at times entire…
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Rail Staff Awards – Samaritans Lifesaver Award nominations open!
23/08/22
Nominations are now open for Rail Staff Lifesaver award, which Samaritans is very proud to be sponsoring! Samaritans Lifesaver award seeks to…
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Don’t Tackle it Alone
13/07/22
Thameslink and Stevenage FC have joined forces to promote positive mental health with a new ‘Don’t Tackle it Alone’ campaign. As mental health…
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North West Artwork Scheme
29/06/22
Bold and colourful photographs have been installed at two stations in the North West as part of a wider scheme to brighten up stations and improve…
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Small Talk Saves Lives Coffee Cups
29/06/22
First launched in November 2017, Small Talk Saves Lives was developed in partnership between Samaritans, Network Rail, and the British Transport…
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Help inform the Government’s new 10-year mental health plan
20/05/22
In a recent statement from Gillian Keegan, Minister of State for Care and Mental Health, the Minister outlined her commitment to work with the sector…
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London Liverpool Street station
18/05/22
Alongside Mental Health Awareness week (9-15 May) colleagues were at London Liverpool St station promoting mental health awareness. Some really…
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How GTR is helping to improve mental health in the industry
13/05/22
Laura Campbell, Govia Thameslink Railway’s (GTR) Suicide Prevention Manager highlights how GTR strengthened its partnership with Stevenage FC to…
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Brew Monday 2022
11/01/22
The third Monday in January is sometimes referred to as ‘the most difficult day of the year’ but this is a myth. At Samaritans they know…
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Small Talk Saves Lives gateline wraps installed
02/12/21
Phase 5 of Samaritans’ Small Talk Saves Lives campaign, in partnership with Network Rail, British Transport Police and the wider rail industry, can…
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Football tournament for World Suicide Prevention Day
14/10/21
On World Suicide Prevention Day, the long-awaited Network Rail Kent Route football tournament took place. The aim, as with previous tournaments, was…
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Station Awareness Day
11/10/21
On the 6th October members of the Regional Route Crime and Suicide Prevention Team, colleagues from North West Route, Central Route, Regional…
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Rail industry joins Samaritans to raise awareness for World Suicide Prevention Day 2021
28/09/21
Every year on 10th September, organisations and communities around the world come together to raise awareness of how we can create a world where…
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R;pple tool launched on World Suicide Prevention Day
13/09/21
A browser plug-in that prompts an automatic pop-up when users search for information on self-harm or taking their own life was launched in the UK on…
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World Suicide Prevention day coming
03/09/21
Every year on 10th September, organisations and communities around the world come together to raise awareness of how we can create a world where…
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The importance of small talk
16/08/21
Network Rail’s Dom Mottram, age 32, knows the importance of small talk after he experienced suicidal thoughts aged 19 and was considering taking…
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Mental Health Crisis Posters installed in Wigan
05/08/21
Following similar successful partnership working with Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust and Hertfordshire Partnership University…
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Small Talk Saves Lives
03/08/21
The UK public may be internationally renowned for being more reserved but a new survey by Samaritans shows how much we rely on small talk, even with…
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Samaritans Outreach Relaunches for Talk to Us
28/07/21
As restrictions lifted, Samaritans volunteers across the UK returned to their local rail stations for the first time since lockdown restrictions…
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The role of a Suicide Prevention Manager with Laura Campbell
22/07/21
My role as Suicide Prevention Manager is incredibly rewarding. Being able to help people is what gets me out of bed every morning. In my role at…
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‘Talk to me’: a train driver asking men to open up
18/06/21
Heather Waugh, train driver for Freightliner, recently spoke to BBC News about her experience and work with Samaritans that has inspired her…
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MTR rail worker has saved 29 people from taking their own lives
18/06/21
Rizwan Javed, 30, from East London works for the MTR Elizabeth Line and has won the Samaritans Lifesaver Award for saving lives through talking and…
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National Suicide Prevention Alliance – Relaunch news
26/05/21
NSPA have launched their new website, which is available to view at www.nspa.org.uk. The site has a refreshed look and feel and allows for easier…
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Mental Health Awareness Week 10-16 May 2021
11/05/21
The rail industry is supporting Samaritans to encourage people to sign up to the charity’s virtual fundraiser, Samarathon, as the train company’s…
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Mental health posters installed across Hertfordshire stations
15/04/21
Now more than ever, it is important to raise awareness of mental health, reducing stigma and promoting available help and support to our passengers…
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Vulnerable persons grab bags
15/04/21
To support colleagues at stations who sometimes need to approach and engage vulnerable members of the public, MTR Elizabeth line have issued all…
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Network Rail launch ‘There’s Always Hope’ campaign
09/03/21
‘There is always hope’ campaign launched as new research shows huge rise in mental health issues across Britain as a result of the pandemic Young…
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Social media use and university students’ non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behaviour
01/03/21
A study to examine the differential associations between types of social media use and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal behaviours has…
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Interventions heroes are recognised by GTR
26/02/21
Almost 60 staff from Govia Thameslink Railway won Lifesaver Awards from the Samaritans during the period. Between them, they have potentially saved…
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Rail industry helps turn ‘Blue Monday’ into ‘Brew Monday’
16/02/21
On Monday 18th January, Network Rail and the wider rail industry, including British Transport Police and Train Operating Companies across the UK,…
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Avanti West Coast & West Midlands Trains partner with Samaritans for a new suicide prevention campaign
15/02/21
Over the next few weeks if you’re tuned in to local commercial radio, you might just hear a 30 second advert for Samaritans to remind people that…
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Samaritans – policy briefs: Suicide and self-harm prevention during the Coronavirus pandemic
10/02/21
Samaritans have published a series of short documents exploring the effects of the pandemic on three groups they are particularly concerned about – …
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Time to Talk Day 2021
04/02/21
Time to Talk Day 2021 takes place on Thursday 4 February – a campaign led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, which aims to start conversations…
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Messages of mental health support at rail stations
02/02/21
Friendly faces and messages of help and support are on show at train stations in Bedfordshire and Luton as part of a mental health campaign….
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Screening system that identifies youth at risk of suicide has been developed in America
01/02/21
Researchers in the USA have developed a computerised adaptive screening system to identify youth at risk for attempting suicide. The screener, called…
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The National Suicide Prevention Alliance conference goes virtual for 2021
25/01/21
This year the National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA) annual conference will be held online, bringing together hundreds of individuals and…
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It’s full steam ahead with Brew Monday 2021!
12/01/21
Get the kettle on, as 18th January marks the return of Brew Monday! Samaritans annual campaign, supported by Network Rail and the wider rail…
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Proud to be Northern – Northern Rail podcast
26/12/20
Northern handed over advertising space across its stations to Samaritans for their Christmas campaign which was also the subject of an episode of…
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Samaritans take part in rail industry podcasts
09/12/20
The Samaritans have been involved in three industry podcasts including RSSB, ‘Could you help save a…
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Time to Change – ‘Ask Twice’ campaign 
19/11/20
On Thursday 19 November 2020, Time to change launched their Ask Twice campaign. This aims to encourage more men to check in with their friends and…
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From Grief to Hope – a ground-breaking report
18/11/20
Suicide Bereavement UK launched their ground-breaking report ‘From Grief to Hope’ at their annual conference on the 18th November…
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The NCISH findings on suspected suicides since the Covid-19 pandemic began
10/11/20
The NCISH published some findings on suspected suicides since the Covid-19 pandemic began on its website. The findings of the report cover a…
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Gro a mo’ for November 2020
29/10/20
The Movember Foundation hosted their annual November event during the period. Men are encouraged to grow a moustache during the month of November to…
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Tony’s Million Step Challenge
25/09/20
Tony Brindley of MTR Elizabeth line has spent every day of September walking over 33,000 steps in his challenge to walk one million steps (500 miles)…
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Mental health support awareness on North West & Central region
24/09/20
Now more than ever, it’s important to raise awareness of mental health, reduce stigma and promote support options. Network Rail’s North West &…
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Nation wakes up to messages of hope on World Suicide Prevention Day
10/09/20
On World Suicide Prevention Day, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), the UK’s biggest rail franchise, unveiled ‘Affirmation Art’ clusters across…
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Suicide Prevention E-learning rolled out to all GTR Staff
10/08/20
The Zero Harm team at GTR has produced a 30-minute e-learning training package on Suicide Prevention and making a safe intervention.  This…
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Samaritans launch new Media Guidelines
03/08/20
On 3 August, Samaritans launched its new edition of its Media Guidelines featuring new advice and resources on how to report suicide and self-harm…
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ORR Annual Report of Health and Safety Performance on Britain’s Railways
14/07/20
On 14 July, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) published their Annual Report of Health and Safety Performance on Britain’s Railways for 2019/20. The…
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RAIL magazine webinar aids mental health and wellbeing
01/07/20
More than 450 people registered to join Supporting each other: mental health and the railway, which was broadcast in association with the 24-page…
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Rail staff praised after making at least 327 interventions in 12 months
18/06/20
To mark Mental Health Awareness Week (18 – 24 May), Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) shone a light on how caring colleagues went above and beyond to…
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Time To Talk podcast featuring the industry’s Suicide Prevention Programme Manager
20/05/20
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW), the rail industry’s Suicide Prevention Programme Manager Ian Stevens has featured on the ‘Time to…
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Mental Health Awareness Week kicks off today -18th May
18/05/20
In honour of Mental Health Awareness Week kicking off on 18th May, the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) have created a list of ’50 random acts of…
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Our Frontline
05/05/20
Our Frontline is a partnership between Shout, Samaritans, Mind, Hospice UK and The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The…
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Small Talk Saves Lives feature on Channel 4
30/03/20
The industry’s Small Talk Saves Lives television advert continues to play on terrestrial and satellite TV. On 11 February a slot was secured to run…
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Rail Industry’s Samaritans Partnership shortlisted at the Business Charity Awards
23/03/20
We are pleased to announce that the industry’s partnership with Samaritans has been shortlisted at the Business Charity Awards. The Business…
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New tools for managing staff trauma
03/03/20
Last year, in collaboration with the Suicide Prevention Duty Holders Group (SPDHG), RSSB produced guidance to help rail companies support employees…
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A change to the rail industry’s relationship with Samaritans
01/03/20
The industry’s contractual relationship with Samaritans, administered on its behalf by Network Rail, ends on 31 March 2020. It is to be replaced…
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West Midlands Trains successful delay repay scheme
17/02/20
In December 2017, West Midlands Trains set up a delay repay scheme that allows passengers to donate their delay repay claims to a chosen charity….
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The industry supports Brew Monday 2020
29/01/20
The third Monday in January is known as Blue Monday, dubbed by some as the most depressing day of the year. In recent years along with Samaritans,…
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Small Talk Saves Lives wins third place for Silence Media’s Creative of the Year
20/12/19
We are pleased to announce that on 18 December the industry’s Small Talk Saves Lives campaign was awarded third place in the Silence Media Creative…
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Fake TfL suicide campaign
10/12/19
Fake Transport for London (TfL) campaign imagery from 2012 that encourages individuals to ‘Kill Yourself at Home’, has recently resurfaced on…
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Land Sheriffs announced winners of Samaritans Lifesaver 2019
28/11/19
On 28 November at The NEC, Birmingham, John Dawson and Rob Shannon from Land Sheriffs were named the winners of the Samaritans Lifesaver Award for…
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LNER and the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) win ‘Best Corporate Partnership 2019’
25/11/19
On 25 November, LNER and the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) were awarded the title of ‘Best Corporate Partnership 2019’ by Corp Comms…
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Freightliner names Locomotive ‘You Are Never Alone’
21/11/19
On 21 November 2019, Freightliner joined forces with Samaritans and Greater Anglia to name its locomotive 66415 ‘You Are Never…
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A Brief Encounter can change someone’s life
13/11/19
On November 13, World Kindness Day, London Waterloo hosted the rail industry’s joint campaign ‘A Brief Encounter’. The campaign aimed to bring…
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20,000 staff trained on Managing Suicidal Contacts
01/11/19
At the beginning of November, the 20,000th delegate within the rail industry was trained on the Managing Suicidal Contacts (MSC) course delivered by…
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Suicide bereavement support to be made available across England
28/10/19
The Government has announced plans to roll out further support services on the NHS across England for individuals who have been affected by…
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World Mental Health Day 2019
10/10/19
On 10th October each year, World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is celebrated to raise awareness of mental health issues and advocate against the social…
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Small Talk Saves Lives features on Britain’s Got Talent
05/10/19
On 5th October during the live final of Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions, the industry’s Small Talk Saves Lives (STSL) campaign featured as…
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Small Talk Saves Lives – Network Rail Fleet Liveries
29/09/19
The rail industry’s Central Suicide Prevention Team have launched a new initiative on behalf of the industry promoting the Small Talk Saves Lives …
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Recognition of Network Rail and Samaritans Partnership
15/09/19
Network Rail, on behalf of the rail industry, has been partnered with Samaritans since 2010 and for the first time the partnership has been…
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Samaritans partner with Paddy Power Betfair
27/08/19
As their charity of the year, Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) staff selected Samaritans.  Following scrutiny by the Samaritans Executive Board the…
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Office for National Statistics Suicide Rate for 2018
18/08/19
Official figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for 2018 have showed a rise to 11.2 deaths from suicide per 100,000 people, up…
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Generation X are the highest for deaths by suicide
13/08/19
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Nadine Dorries appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care
27/07/19
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Samaritans Big Listen event at Waterloo
24/07/19
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Suicide: an ITV News investigation
17/07/19
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Netflix cuts suicide scenes in 13 Reasons Why
16/07/19
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Annual Report of Health and Safety Performance on Britain’s Railways
16/07/19
On 16 July, the Office of Rail and Road launched its Annual Report of Health and Safety Performance on Britain’s Railways. Its primary message was…
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Small Talk Saves Lives achieves a hat-trick
25/06/19
Over the last month, the rail industry’s Small Talk Saves Lives (STSL) campaign achieved three awards – taking the total to 26…
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The national review of local suicide prevention plans
21/06/19
On 21 June Samaritans and University of Exeter, on behalf of the government published the first nationwide review of suicide prevention planning…
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PM launches new mission to put prevention at the top of the mental health agenda
17/06/19
On 17 June Prime Minister Theresa May announced a package of measures related to improving mental health…
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BBC Crossing Divides: On the Move Day
14/06/19
On 14 June, the BBC and public transport companies, launched the ‘Crossing Divides on the Move Day’ campaign, aimed at sparking commuter…
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Scotland’s suicide rate prompts call for further action
13/06/19
According to new figures released by the NHS Information Services Division (ISD), the suicide rate in Scotland increased by…
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Student suicides
07/06/19
In recent months concern has been growing among universities and other academic institutions across the country, about the number of students in…
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McVitie’s and Mind team-up to talk about mental health
04/06/19
Biscuit maker McVitie’s and mental health charity Mind have partnered for a joint mission to get the nation talking through their ‘Let’s Talk’…
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Time to Celebrate – National Volunteers Week
01/06/19
This year, Volunteers’ Week is about celebrating people who give up their time to help others. It is also the perfect chance to support the rail…
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‘Burn-out’ recognised in the International Classification of Diseases
28/05/19
For the first time, the World Health Organisation (WHO) have officially classified workplace burn-out as an occupational phenomenon, in its latest…
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Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum
21/05/19
The Duke of Cambridge meets representatives of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade at the Tidal…
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Brand Film Festival
01/05/19
On Wednesday 1 May, the third Brand Film Festival was held at Hawker House, London and we are pleased to announce the industry’s Small Talk Saves…
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First Minister for Suicide Prevention briefed
25/04/19
On 25 April Ian Stevens, Programme Manager – Suicide Prevention, met with Jackie Doyle-Price the governments Suicide Prevention…
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Real People, Real Stories campaign launches
01/03/19
In March this year, with the backing of the Suicide Prevention Duty Holders Group the fourth national rail industry suicide prevention campaign was…
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