Suicide is preventable and lives are being saved every day. This is a message that needs to be spread more. No, comic superheroes are not the ones responsible. It’s the heroes among us, ordinary people we see and interact with on a daily basis. On top of our list of such heroes is Laura Campbell, the Suicide Prevention Manager at GTR. Our magazine has been honored with the opportunity to interview Laura.
Co-ordinating and delivering Govia Thameslink Railway’s Suicide Prevention Strategy across the network, Laura is the only dedicated Suicide Prevention Manager in the UK rail industry. In this role she influences and advises the sector nationally and internationally to proactively tackle this important issue.
My best piece of advice for organisations is to try and ensure anyone struggling with their mental health doesn’t suffer in silence. Actively engaging in a conversation is more important than ever.
Laura Campbell, Suicide Prevention Manager at GTR
Welcome, Laura. Can you bring us closer to the role of Suicide Prevention Manager?
My role as Suicide Prevention Manager is incredibly rewarding. Being able to help people is what gets me out of bed every morning. In my role at Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which operates Southern, Great Northern and Thameslink services, I work to proactively reduce suicide by working in partnership with different departments and organisations, including the British Transport Police and Samaritans, as well as our station managers and safety and security teams.
You don’t see this role in every organisation. Why is it so significant in the rail industry?
GTR is the only rail company to have a dedicated Suicide Prevention Manager, with a focused remit to help prevent suicide and support those who need it; this is something I’m very proud of. The role isn’t just about making our stations safer, although it is of course a significant part of it. For every life lost on the railway, six are saved and GTR recognises how important it is that our colleagues and passengers have the tools needed to support vulnerable people. However, we also want to raise awareness of the importance of good mental health in the rail industry and beyond.
Walk us through your decision and reasoning for becoming a Suicide Prevention Manager?
My grandmother sadly took her own life on the railway when my mum was just four years old. Back then, there wasn’t much support available for those who experienced the impact that suicide can have on people; I don’t think she’s ever processed it properly. When I found out, I remember being in shock and just feeling so sad for my mum.
Even though my mum had concerns about me taking on this role, I was determined to do it because my focus is on how many people can be helped by all the work we’re doing to prevent suicide. It’s incredibly important to me we’re doing something to stop it happening.
Considering the stressful situations and stories you face, would you say your job takes a toll on you?
There are some high-pressured situations which can create really tough and challenging days. However, hearing stories about our colleagues and passengers who’ve gone above and beyond to save a life is just incredible and so humbling. It’s also important switch off from work and spend time with my family to prevent feeling overwhelmed. I try to get outside as much as possible and we’re really lucky where we live because there’s an amazing lake nearby, which is handy as I really enjoy water sports!
Our intervention rates have more than doubled in the last three years and I truly believe this has a strong link to the increased confidence of my colleagues after they have undertaken our internal training, which is given to all colleagues, no matter the role in the company.
Laura campbell
Tell us about the lifesaving intervention rates and its impact from both your and GTR’s perspective.
We class an intervention as when someone has potentially saved a life. Our intervention rates have more than doubled in the last three years and I truly believe this has a strong link to the increased confidence of my colleagues after they have undertaken our internal training, which is given to all colleagues, no matter the role in the company.
It can be a stressful experience if a colleague has dealt with an incident and this can impact their own mental health. If a colleague has intervened to potentially save a life, we are robust in the provision of support we offer, which includes Trauma Support Training through TRiM (Trauma Risk Management), peer-to-peer options, connection to CareFirst, our external support provider, as well as in-house counsellor and Chaplaincy support.
How does GTR train and support its people for this?
GTR is incredibly supportive and I’m truly passionate about ensuring all teams complete the Suicide Prevention Training, which we created in July last year. The training is delivered via a 30-minute e-learning package. In a nutshell, it provides hint and tips and explains that they can’t make the situation worse, a belief many people hold prior to taking the course. They should call 999 if they believe a person is vulnerable and they should make sure they approach safely. Just saying hello could be all that is needed to break the suicidal persons’ thought process and to enable them to move the person to a place of safety.
Your message to organisations all around the world when it comes to mental health care and suicide prevention?
The pandemic has resulted in significant and widespread shifts in how we live our day-to-day lives and organisations need to understand and accept people may be feel more anxious, lonely and in some cases, depressed.
I speak to other train operators and industry partners and colleagues about what more can be done to protect customers and employees. Staff training is the most important aspect as they are the eyes and ears of our business, and they need this to be confident enough to open up a conversation with their colleagues.
My best piece of advice for organisations is to try and ensure anyone struggling with their mental health doesn’t suffer in silence. Actively engaging in a conversation is more important than ever.
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