PREVENTING SUICIDES

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: february 2014 :: RMTnews 12 Suicide on the rail network is a traumatising and costly problem. On average, one person per day attempts to take their life on the railway. Not all of them succeed but an average of 210 per year do. Suicide is a tragedy for family members and friends but it can have a traumatic effect on staff members who are called to the scene or who witness the event. This coalition’s attacks on workers’ rights means that those psychologically injured by witnessing such harrowing events are no longer able to claim compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. Some delays exceed 2,000 minutes per incident and can cause massive disruption however the rail industry is becoming faster at getting services running again. Why people choose the railway to end their life is not clear. It isn’t always a certain way of ending life as the numerous failed attempts show. Whatever the reasons for suicide attempts, the rail industry knew that the problem needed to be addressed. Network Rail engaged with The Samaritans for a five-year suicide prevention programme in 2010 and part of this programme was to introduce training for front-line staff in recognising and dealing with potentially suicidal people. Station staff, Mobile Operations Managers, security guards and BTP officers are just some of the roles that are encouraged to join the training course that was specifically designed with the railway industry in mind. RMT was recently represented on a course and nearly 5,000 railway staff have attended so far. The one-day course, Managing Suicidal Contacts, gives staff the tools to help them recognise suicidal behaviour as well as teaches how to approach vulnerable people using questioning techniques that will encourage them to open up and start talking. Once contact is made with a suicidal person it becomes easier to engage them and move them to a place of safety where further contact can be made with The Samaritans. The main point of the course is teaching people how to give ‘emotional first aid’ and help to break a suicide plan. Staff members are not expected to be a counsellor, but be a first point of contact and direct the vulnerable person towards someone who can further help them. That could be the British Transport Police or The Samaritans. Both the BTP and Samaritans can refer onto the appropriate agencies. Feedback from the course has been unanimously positive with some staff members going on to use their newly acquired skills in interventions. RMT members Sharon Willett and Ben Rudkin have both been involved in interventions that saved vulnerable peoples’ lives. They both said that had they not previously attended the course, that they may not have had the confidence to approach the people they saved. RMT fully supports this course and the work that Network Rail is doing with The Samaritans. Your union is represented on the National Suicide Prevention Steering Group (NSPSG) which discusses and steers the prevention programme. There will shortly be a booklet produced by the NSPSG that gives advice to staff members who have been involved in a suicide. As soon as it is published it will be available on the RMT website. For any further details or for booking a course, please contact: railcompanies@samaritans.org You can also visit the Samaritans/Railways microsite at: www.samaritans.org/your- community/reducing-railway- deaths Please also contact RMT Health & Safety Officer Stephanie Mackay on s.mackay@rmt.org.uk for further details. RMT backs training scheme at Network Rail to give workers the tools to deal with and prevent suicides on the railways PREVENTING SUICIDES