Former train driver backs campaign to reduce suicides
Clyde News is hearing from Willie Simpson who stopped driving after three suicides while he was at the controls and is getting behind the rail industry's drive to decrease the number
Last updated 13th Feb 2017
A train driver who quit his job after three suicides is backing the rail industry's efforts to identify people at risk.
51 year old Willie Simpson from Ayrshire stopped driving ten years ago after a suicide in which a van was parked on the railway.
He's talking to Clyde News:
The rail industry believes suicide is preventable and not inevitable and has brought in the Samaritans to train more than 15,000 rail staff UK wide to help identify people at risk.
Network Rail, Scotrail and British Transport Police are working together to try and decrease the number of people who take their lives and are supporting the UK government's target of a 10% reduction in suicides by 2020/2021.
The number of suicides on the railways across the UK in 2015-2016 was 252. The number has remained under 300 since 2011-2012 and 4% of suicides are on the rail network.
80% of people who die by suicide in the rail network are men (suicide is the biggest killer of men aged 20-45 in the UK) and those from the most deprived areas are ten times more likely to take their own lives than those from more affluent parts.
Professor Rory O'Connor, who works at Glasgow University in the Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory, talks about the work that has been done to prevent suicides on the rail network.
British Transport Police says over the last year they've helped stop 65 people from taking their own lives.
Detective Inspector Arlene Wilson, who is based in Glasgow says, "it is extremely important," because "as police officers our job is to support and help the public."
"If officers are out and about in cars or in foot or travelling on a train, if it is pointed out someone was in need we help to intervene."
"It could be we phone for assistance, it could be we take them to a hospital and get someone who is medically trained to make the decision about their well being."
"We have a partnership approach with the Samaritans and they deliver training on spotting signs of concern."
And she is keen to stress that "there is always someone you can speak to, someone that is interested, there are very few people who have absolutely no-one."
"People need to talk more and look for help and they will get that help."
Anyone who needs help can go to:
http://www.samaritans.org/your-community/samaritans-work-scotland