TRL

Our vision is to create the future of transport, using independent research and innovative thinking.

Our mission at TRL is to improve the safety of everyone on or around the transport network. Our expertise supports research, recommendations and advice on a wider range of safety factors.

How does your organisation contribute to preventing suicide and supporting those affected by it?

We recognise the devastating impact of suicide on individuals and wider communities and TRL are committed to helping to reduce the occurrence and impact of suicide.

At TRL, we have adopted a mental health focus to support the wellbeing of our colleagues. We have introduced Mental Health First Aiders, helping to spot the signs and provide assistance where needed. We have a dedicated website which provides helpful advice related to mental health issues. Our employees are provided with 24/7 access to an employee assistance service for physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, legal and financial advice, counselling and GP services. We also support specific initiatives such as fundraising for Samaritans through the ‘Brew Monday’ campaign.

In our research work, areas of focus include mental health and suicide. Over the past few years, we’ve been working closely with National Highways to help them reduce suicides on the Strategic Road Network. Here, we’ve undertaken a number of projects to help support National Highways to adopt a more proactive approach to suicide prevention. TRL are supporting National Highways to move towards a risk-based approach to suicide through establishing tools and standardized processes to support designers to proactively assess suicide risk on highway schemes.

What are your current priorities?

TRL hope to continue to build on the work undertaken with National Highways to help them achieve their objectives relating to suicide prevention, and ultimately help them to reduce the occurrences of suicide on the Strategic Road Network.

We are also keen to apply the knowledge and experience gained through working with National Highways to collaborate and work with other organisations who are looking to reduce suicides in public spaces.

What challenges are you currently facing?

The team at TRL are keen to expand our understanding of mental health issues and suicide through further collaboration with organisations working in this sector. We are a research institution so are also keen to explore new areas of research that we could help support. We are hoping to build up our network through participation in the National Suicide Prevention Alliance.