Suicide Prevention News

Suicide Prevention News

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Rail staff praised after making at least 327 interventions in 12 months

Rail staff praised after making at least 327 interventions in 12 months

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 help some of the most vulnerable in their time of need.

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Time To Talk podcast featuring the industry’s Suicide Prevention Programme Manager

Time To Talk podcast featuring the industry’s Suicide Prevention Programme Manager

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW), the rail industry's Suicide Prevention Programme Manager Ian Stevens has featured on the ‘Time to Talk’ podcast.

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Mental Health Awareness Week kicks off today -18th May

Mental Health Awareness Week kicks off today -18th May

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 kindness'.

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Our Frontline

Our Frontline

Our Frontline is a partnership between Shout, Samaritans, Mind, Hospice UK and The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The organisations have partnered together to launch a support service for health, care, emergency and key workers.

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Latest News

Rail staff praised after making at least 327 interventions in 12 months

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 help some of the most vulnerable in their time of need.

Time To Talk podcast featuring the industry’s Suicide Prevention Programme Manager

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW), the rail industry’s Suicide Prevention Programme Manager Ian Stevens has featured on the ‘Time to Talk’ podcast.

Mental Health Awareness Week kicks off today -18th May

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 kindness’.

Our Frontline is a partnership between Shout, Samaritans, Mind, Hospice UK and The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The organisations have partnered together to launch a support service for health, care, emergency and key workers.

Small Talk Saves Lives feature on Channel 4

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 it on Channel 4 during a programme called Losing it: Our Mental Health Emergency, which aired at 22:00.

Rail Industry’s Samaritans Partnership shortlisted at the Business Charity Awards

We are pleased to announce that the industry’s partnership with Samaritans has been shortlisted at the Business Charity Awards. The Business Charity Awards recognise the outstanding work and contributions made by businesses in the United Kingdom to good causes and this year, Network Rail and Samaritans partnership has been shortlisted for Long-Term Partnership 2020.

New tools for managing staff trauma

Last year, in collaboration with the Suicide Prevention Duty Holders Group (SPDHG), RSSB produced guidance to help rail companies support employees following a potentially traumatic incident. An updated Trauma Management Toolbox has now been published.

A change to the rail industry’s relationship with Samaritans

The industry’s contractual relationship with Samaritans, administered on its behalf by Network Rail, ends on 31 March 2020. It is to be replaced from 1 April 2020 by a grant-based system, that will not only see Samaritans continue to work with the industry but give scope for other organisations to contribute to those activities as well through centrally funded grants.

West Midlands Trains successful delay repay scheme

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. Samaritans were the first chosen charity and at the end of 2018, London Northwestern and West Midlands Railway passengers, donated over £7,000 of delay repay claims, to support lifesaving work across the rail network.

The industry supports Brew Monday 2020

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, the rail industry has looked to rename this day ‘Brew Monday’.

Small Talk Saves Lives wins third place for Silence Media’s Creative of the Year

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 of The Year.

Fake TfL suicide campaign

Fake Transport for London (TfL) campaign imagery from 2012 that encourages individuals to ‘Kill Yourself at Home’, has recently resurfaced on social media. Three campaign posters for ‘Considerate Suicide’ were designed and created by Elvis Communication without permission or consultation from TfL.

Land Sheriffs announced winners of Samaritans Lifesaver 2019

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 their contribution to saving a life on the railway.

LNER and the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) win ‘Best Corporate Partnership 2019’

On 25 November, LNER and the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) were awarded the title of ‘Best Corporate Partnership 2019’ by Corp Comms Magazine.

Freightliner names Locomotive ‘You Are Never Alone’

On 21 November 2019, Freightliner joined forces with Samaritans and Greater Anglia to name its locomotive 66415 ‘You Are Never Alone’.

A Brief Encounter can change someone’s life

On November 13, World Kindness Day, London Waterloo hosted the rail industry’s joint campaign ‘A Brief Encounter’. The campaign aimed to bring the 1945 film Brief Encounter, back to life to let commuters know how they can help if they see someone in distress.

20,000 staff trained on Managing Suicidal Contacts

At the beginning of November, the 20,000th delegate within the rail industry was trained on the Managing Suicidal Contacts (MSC) course delivered by Samaritans since 2010.

Suicide bereavement support to be made available across England

The Government has announced plans to roll out further support services on the NHS across England for individuals who have been affected by suicide.

World Mental Health Day 2019

On 10th October each year, World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is celebrated to raise awareness of mental health issues and advocate against the social stigma.

Small Talk Saves Lives features on Britain’s Got Talent

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 part of a three-minute advertisement break.

Small Talk Saves Lives – Network Rail Fleet Liveries

The rail industry’s Central Suicide Prevention Team have launched a new initiative on behalf of the industry promoting the Small Talk Saves Lives campaign. As of September 2019, an estimated 2,000 vehicles in Network Rail’s fleet will be branded with the Small Talk Saves Lives logo.

Recognition of Network Rail and Samaritans Partnership

Network Rail, on behalf of the rail industry, has been partnered with Samaritans since 2010 and for the first time the partnership has been recognised as the third most admired Corporate-Non-Government Organisation (NGO) partnership in the country, at the C&E Advisory’s 10th Annual Corporate-NGO Partnership Barometer.

Samaritans partner with Paddy Power Betfair

As their charity of the year, Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) staff selected Samaritans. Following scrutiny by the Samaritans Executive Board the partnership was recently announced, drawing criticism from certain quarters.

Office for National Statistics Suicide Rate for 2018

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 from 10.1 in 2017. 6,507 suicides were registered in Britain last year compared with 5,821 the previous year, a rise of 11.8 per cent.

Generation X are the highest for deaths by suicide

Analysis by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that Generation X – those born in the 1960s and 1970s – are the age-group with the greatest number of deaths by suicide. The data shows the higher rate of fatalities began in the 1980s and 90s, when people belonging to Generation X were in their… View Article

Nadine Dorries appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care

Following Boris Johnson’s appointment as PM and the subsequent reshuffling of positions in government, Jackie Doyle-Price, the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care, with responsibility for suicide prevention has been replaced by Nadine Dorries, Member of Parliament for Mid Bedfordshire.

Samaritans Big Listen event at Waterloo

On 24 July, Samaritans held a Big Listen event at Waterloo station to raise awareness of services and support they offer, as well as raising funds for their local branch. The aim of Big Listen is to demonstrate the importance of listening and how it can be the first step to saving a life. Samaritans... View Article

Suicide: an ITV News investigation

On 17 July, ITV News aired their latest Granada piece on ‘Suicide: an ITV News investigation’, which focuses on suicides in the North West. 361 men, women and children are thought to have taken their own lives in the North West so far this year. The region has one the highest suicide rates in the… View Article

Netflix cuts suicide scenes in 13 Reasons Why

Netflix has announced on 16 July that it will cut the controversial suicide scene from the teen drama series 13 Reasons Why, after researchers identified a rise in suicides. The first series released in 2017, concluded with the character Hannah Baker, taking her own life. Mental health campaigners criticised Netflix for showing the suicide method,… View Article

Annual Report of Health and Safety Performance on Britain’s Railways

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 that Britain’s railway remains one of the safest in Europe for passengers but warns that the rate of improvement has shown signs of slowing.

Small Talk Saves Lives achieves a hat-trick

Over the last month, the rail industry’s Small Talk Saves Lives (STSL) campaign achieved three awards – taking the total to 26 awards!

The national review of local suicide prevention plans

On 21 June Samaritans and University of Exeter, on behalf of the government published the first nationwide review of suicide prevention planning within local authorities in England.

PM launches new mission to put prevention at the top of the mental health agenda

On 17 June Prime Minister Theresa May announced a package of measures related to improving mental health prevention.

BBC Crossing Divides: On the Move Day

On 14 June, the BBC and public transport companies, launched the ‘Crossing Divides on the Move Day’ campaign, aimed at sparking commuter conversations. Bus, train and coach companies were hoping to inspire interaction by rolling out creative ways for people to engage with one another.

Scotland’s suicide rate prompts call for further action

According to new figures released by the NHS Information Services Division (ISD), the suicide rate in Scotland increased by 14% last year. In 2018, 784 people in Scotland took their own lives, an increase from 680 the year before.

Student suicides

In recent months concern has been growing among universities and other academic institutions across the country, about the number of students in their care taking their own lives.

McVitie’s and Mind team-up to talk about mental health

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’ campaign.

Time to Celebrate – National Volunteers Week

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 industry’s Million Hour Challenge (MHC).

‘Burn-out’ recognised in the International Classification of Diseases

For the first time, the World Health Organisation (WHO) have officially classified workplace burn-out as an occupational phenomenon, in its latest revision of the International Classification of Diseases.

Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum

The Duke of Cambridge meets representatives of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade at the Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum

Brand Film Festival

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 Lives (STSL) campaign picked up two awards.

First Minister for Suicide Prevention briefed

On 25 April Ian Stevens, Programme Manager – Suicide Prevention, met with Jackie Doyle-Price the governments Suicide Prevention Minister

Real People, Real Stories campaign launches

In March this year, with the backing of the Suicide Prevention Duty Holders Group the fourth national rail industry suicide prevention campaign was launched, Real People, Real Stories (RPRS).