TV presenter Fearne Cotton and Paul Merson, a former footballer, have been added to this year’s speaker list at Rail Wellbeing Live on 17th and 18th November.

The on-line virtual event is the largest free health and wellbeing event for those in the rail industry – some 240,000 people.

This year the event will take place online over two days and guests can choose from 75 pick‘n’mix free sessions with 100+ inspiring speakers.

Paul will open up about his battle with addiction in his football career, and Fearne will share how to find joy in the everyday things. Other speakers include:

• Rebecca Adlington, double gold Olympic medallist
• Bryony Gordon, best-selling author of the book Mad Girl
• Jason Fox from Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins
• Dr Rupy Aujla, the GP behind The Doctor’s Kitchen project

The event has been organised by Rail Wellbeing Alliance, a cross-industry body comprising rain operating companies, suppliers and industry bodies. Everyone in the rail industry can gain tips and guidance on health and wellbeing issues whilst listen to inspiring high-profile speakers and connecting with colleagues in the industry.

This year the line up has seen a new edition of a 10pm session which covers how to reduce fatigue and nutrition for shift work. The event will be live-streamed and available all day every day for two weeks after the event. But to benefit from this event, you MUST register to be able to access it.

If you work in the Rail industry, it’s not too late to register and join the thousands already signed up for this year’s event. Once registered, you can watch all the 75 sessions for up to two weeks after the Rail Wellbeing Event. To book your place, visit www.railwellbeinglive.co.uk 

At 1.6 times the national average, suicides in the rail workforce are amongst the highest in UK. With a 3.9% absence rate because of ill health, both mental and physical – more than double the private sector average, it is estimated to cost the rail industry £790m each year. According to Office for National Statistics in Britain, one in five adults have suffered with some form of depression in early 2021, which is more than double since before the pandemic.

John Halsall, chair of the Rail Wellbeing Alliance and managing director for Network Rail’s Southern region, said: “We’re delighted that thousands have already registered, but with 240,000 across the industry, there are so many more people who could benefit from this free event, so I’d encourage everyone across the industry to sign up, if they haven’t already.”

Rachel who works at the Rail Delivery Group and is looking forward to attending this years Rail Wellbeing Live said: “I have always been very open about my struggles with mental health. I’ve had anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder for most of my life, along with periods of other mental illness. I use my experiences not only to educate others that OCD isn’t just about being clean or turning a light switch on and off, but to hopefully inspire others to feel safe to discuss their own struggles. I fully support Rail Wellbeing Live and think it is even more needed now, as we come out of lockdown and are all adjusting to the ‘new normal’ of working life.

“One in four of us will have a diagnosed mental illness at some point in our lives and I believe that we all go through periods of mental unwellness, however brief they may be. The most effective coping strategy I have is talking about what I’ve been through and what I go through on a daily basis.

“Rail Wellbeing Live is great for introverted people who may not be ready to engage in a conversation about mental health but are either interested or have experienced their own poor mental health and just want to understand a bit more. It’s an opportunity for them to do so, without being in a big crowd of people. There’s such a varied agenda with a mixture of practical sessions, informative sessions and interactive sessions. There really is something for everybody.”

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