The Rail Safety and Standards Board Podcast

Could you help save a life?

December 09, 2020 RSSB Season 1 Episode 8
The Rail Safety and Standards Board Podcast
Could you help save a life?
Show Notes

In this episode Jason Alexandre of Samaritans talks about the Samaritans' partnership with Network Rail and the rail industry to reduce the number of suicides on the railway.  Customer experience manager Rizwan Javed talks about how the training gave him the confidence to intervene, and then tells the story of just one of the 29 life-saving interventions he has made.

01:19 About Jason.

01:57 About Rizwan.

03:22 Samaritans' partnership with the rail industry.

05:15 Talking numbers, and the success of interventions by railway staff.

05:55 About the Managing Suicidal Contacts training programme for the rail industry.

10:20 How the Managing Suicidal Contacts training got Rizwan to start a conversation.

12:20 Rizwan tells the story of just one of his interventions.


Whatever you’re facing, Samaritans volunteers are always there to listen, without judgement, 365 days a year—call free from any phone on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

Related resources:

For more information on Samaritans partnership with the rail industry and to take part in the managing suicidal contacts training, you can email railcompanies@samaritans.org.

Suicide prevention key contacts: https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/improving-safety-health-and-wellbeing/suicide-prevention/suicide-awareness-key-contacts 

Suicide prevention good practice: https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/improving-safety-health-and-wellbeing/suicide-prevention/suicide-awareness-key-contacts 

Suicide prevention support materials: https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/improving-safety-health-and-wellbeing/suicide-prevention/suicide-prevention-support-material 

Suicide prevention guidance: https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/improving-safety-health-and-wellbeing/suicide-prevention/suicide-prevention-guidance 

RESTRAIL Toolbox (REduction of Suicide and Trespass on RAILway property) https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/improving-safety-health-and-wellbeing/trespass/restrail-toolbox-reduction-of-suicide-and-trespass-on-railway-property 

Continuing the evaluation of the national rail suicide prevention programme (T1081) https://www.rssb.co.uk/research-catalogue/CatalogueItem/T1081 

Minimising the impact of suicides on railway staff (T317) https://www.rssb.co.uk/research-catalogue/CatalogueItem/T317 

Improving suicide prevention measures on the rail network in Great Britain (T845) https://www.rssb.co.uk/research-catalogue/CatalogueItem/T845