New display in UK train stations to "break the stigma" around mental health
The Brighter Journeys pop-up is designed to improve the wellbeing of rail passengers and signpost to local services
Train commuters are being greeted with inspirational messages to help boost their mental health at some of the UK's busiest stations.
The Brighter Journeys project aims to challenge people's expectations of what our rail network looks like, and to provide them with signposts to services that can help improve their wellbeing.
A number of stations are involved ahead of World Mental Health Day on Sunday 10th October.
- London Waterloo: Oct 4-5th
- Slough: Oct 6th
- Cardiff Central: Oct 7-8th
- Watford Junction: Oct 8th
- Leicester: Oct 11th
- Glasgow Central: Oct 11-12th
- Liverpool Lime Street: Oct 13th
Get help for your mental health
More than 25 people every week suffer a crisis around the UK rail network.
Network Rail has teamed up with the Poetry Project and national charity Chasing the Stigma to create floral displays that will be accompanied by inspirational messaging, and links to the local services where people can get help if they need it.
Speaking to our Mental Health Monday Podcast, Network Rail Suicide Prevention Lead Louise McNally said: "We want to encourage people to access mental health support services at the earliest opportunity.
"We want to avoid them being in crisis and distress.
"People can see stations as transactional, anonymous places and we want to turn these perceptions on its head because these stations are full of community and connection and we're trying to encourage that perception a little bit more."
Brighter Journeys ahead
Poet James McInerney's written a series of quotes that will appear on passenger notice boards in stations from London to Glasgow.
He told us "When you are caught up in a mental health bubble, these feelings can be all-consuming. These messages are her to distract you, in a good way, to make you pause, make you reflect, and when people do that, things are easier to deal with.
"When you feel things, and feel that's something you can't talk about, that's when you bottle it up.
"When you see these feelings in the public domain, with people loving them and taking pictures, it makes it that much easier."
Returning to the rail network
While home working may have become a common part of pandemic life, a new survey reveals the nation is now heading back to work as passengers readjust to life after lockdown.
The findings from YouGov show nearly half of UK adults (48%) travelled to their workplace for most of their working week in August, when lockdown restrictions were fully lifted across the country.
Meanwhile, almost a third (29%) said they are more likely to travel to the workplace on a regular basis from September onwards.
Reasons include missing speaking to colleagues face-to-face (27%) and the boost it brings to team and work morale (21%).
As more people adapt their routines following the lifting of lockdown restrictions, over half (52%) of UK adults surveyed said a return to the workplace can boost their own and others’ mental health and wellbeing, while 57% also said it provides a sense of human connection.