Preventing suicide on the railways

MP with APPG speakers

Madeleine Moon MP this week chaired a meeting of the All Party Group on Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention in the House of Commons. The Group heard presentations from Network Rail and the Samaritans about a new National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

The Samaritans and Network Rail jointly launched the Strategy earlier this year. On average there are 240 suicides a year on the rail network. The Strategy aims to reduce this by 20% over the next five years. As part of the strategy, 10,000 staff at railway stations will be trained to approach people who are in emotional distress and refer them to the Samaritans.

Madeleine Moon MP said

“I would firstly like to congratulate the Samaritans and Network Rail on the development of this vital Strategy. It addresses a long-neglected issue in the rail industry.”

“For far too long, the approach to dealing with suicide on the railways has been that ‘nothing can be done’ and little investment has been made in looking at ways to prevent it.”

“This Strategy is incredibly important and I was encouraged to hear that early feedback from station staff who have received the training is very positive.”