MTR Elizabeth Line

Our work in suicide prevention

MTR Elizabeth line, operating as TfL Rail prior to the commencement of full Crossrail services, are a significant partner of the wider UK Rail network. The difference we aim to make is broad – reducing the number of suicides on our railway, increasing the number of interventions by staff (including contractors), and by continually increasing the awareness and training of our staff. We aspire to our stations being safe havens with staff willing and able to manage contact with those in distress and signpost them to the relevant support function.

We aspire to our staff being capable guardians  for those in distress by providing an element of ‘positive obstruction’. We aspire to support all staff involved in both suicide and suicide interventions through dynamic post-incident support and through trauma support training, We aspire to reduce the impact of suicide by providing support to family and friends working closely with policing agencies. We will work together with industry partners, the police, support groups and Public Health England.

Our current priorities

Training and Awareness

To continue in a programme of training and awareness of staff and managers with Managing Suicidal Contacts and Trauma Support key to this.

Preventative measures

To work with partners in identifying existing and new risks in respect of the railway infrastructure and manage solutions that are timely and effective.

Station staffing

To maintain staffing of stations during all operational hours and continue to motivate those staff, daily if required, to remain alert to the risk and empower them to find workable solutions in the workplace.

Collaboration

To work with industry partners and policing agencies on data sharing.

Signage and Messaging

To remain alert to the need for good signage and effective messaging, adopting quickly any recommendations made by partners.

Our current challenges

There are numerous challenges to our organisation in delivering these outcomes. These include the relatively open nature of the rail network, the maintenance of fence-lines along the line of route, and ensuring staff remain supported, remain alert and aware to the risks, and remain confident in engaging with those people in distress.