Suicide deaths on railways: the nurse-led interventions that could save lives

Community engagement is key, says mental health nurse who has taken groundbreaking role at Network Rail

While fewer than 5% of suicides in Britain happen on railways, witnessing such a shocking event can leave lasting trauma, says Network Rail.

But there can be many opportunities for people to intervene and help to dissuade someone from ending their life, says Rachel Luby, who in October was appointed as the organisation’s first ever mental health nurse, a role created with the aim of reducing incidents.

What happens before an individual reaches the station

Engaging the community in suicide prevention work is key. ‘Our approach is to look at all of the touch points before someone arrives at a station,’