One of the supporters of the suicide prevention charity Samaritans’ annual Awareness Day, also known as the 24/7 Samaritans Awareness Day held yesterday, Friday 24th July, was GBR Anglia.

In the last 12 months, across the railway in East Anglia, rail staff and British Transport Police have started 134 conversations that could have led to potentially life-saving situations, and almost 1,000 since 2021. It has been shown that a brief conversation can make the difference when someone may be in distress.

Samaritans has 19,000 listening volunteers throughout the UK and Ireland, and used its Awareness Day to promote its service, which is available around the clock.

The charity has also been training railway staff in the vital skills that could help save a life, with more than 900 staff working for Network Rail Anglia, c2c, and Greater Anglia having been trained to recognise someone who may be suicidal, how to approach them, and how to start a conversation. The training includes teaching railway staff some of the essential listening skills that are the basis of Samaritans’ services, how to safely resolve a situation, and how to refer someone at risk to friends, family, the British Transport Police or Samaritans so they can receive further support

Network Rail Anglia now has two NHS mental health nurses embedded in the organisation, and over 150 people have received direct support during the last two years with immediate intervention, follow-up care, or coordinated help with NHS and community partners.

Earlier this year, c2c supported a Kick4Kindness football tournament, which raised £ 5,000 for local mental health charities, including Basildon & Thurrock and Southend Samaritans.

Anyone can contact Samaritans free of charge at any time for emotional support, and the charity can be contacted by calling 116 123 or online at www.samaritans.org.

Yesterday’s Awareness Day was also supported by East Midlands Railway. Other initiatives that Samaritans holds in partnership with the railways are its annual ‘Brew Monday’.

“We’re proud to support Samaritans’ work on this 24/7 awareness day. Our teams across the railway in Anglia have not only raised funds for the charity, but have undertaken vital training to give them the confidence to approach people who are vulnerable or who may need help on the railway, potentially starting a life-saving conversation.”

Lee Parlett, Health, Safety, Security & Environment Director, GBR Anglia