Mental Health Awareness week starts today and continues until the 18th May. Network Rail has unveiled a number of benches at stations in Scotland to promote positive mental health.

The benches encourage visitors and members of the community to take a moment to reflect and talk through difficult times.

To get the benches in place, Network Rail has partnered up with ScotRail, NHS 24’s Breathing Space Service, the Samaritans, as well as local authorities.

Across the week, the benches will be revealed at Fort William, Dundee, Dumfries, Cardonald, and Uddingston stations.

A number of these Breathing Space benches are already present at stations such as Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley.

With over 50 of these benches installed across the UK, the positive feedback shows that these benches make a difference.

“Mental health support belongs everywhere, including our railway.    

“The benches provide an opportunity for people to transform the time spent waiting for their train into a moment to focus on their wellbeing. They invite you to pause, reflect, and, if you choose, share a conversation.  

“Whether you’re waiting for a train or simply passing through, taking a seat can be the first step toward easing feelings of stress, loneliness, or anxiety.” 

Innis Keith, health, safety and environment director at Network Rail