Samaritans’ signs to be installed on rail platforms to help suicidal

Signs with the contact details of the Samaritans are to be installed on every railway station platform across the State in an attempt to stop people taking their own lives by jumping in front of oncoming trains.

Research carried out in the UK has shown that such signage can help play an important role in the prevention of suicide and that research has prompted the Irish initiative which is being run jointly by the Samaritans and Iarnród Éireann.

The signs will carry the Samaritan’s contact details and will encourage people to seek help if they need someone to talk to.

"Our work with the rail industry to prevent suicides in the UK with Network Rail is something we are really proud of," said the executive director of the Samaritans in Ireland Catherine Brogan.

“We are glad to have the opportunity to expand it to Ireland. Raising awareness of our service to rail commuters is really important. We want people to recognise the value of talking, rather than bottling things up,” she added.

The chief executive of Iarnród Éireann David Franks echoed her sentiments and said that having worked in the railway industry all his life he was well aware that “suicides on the railway are a sad reality.

“We as a company want to do everything we can to encourage members of the public to seek help and reach out for support when they are going through a difficult time. We hope that providing signage on all railway platforms will encourage those who need it to seek assistance”.

The impact of someone taking their own lives on the rail network can be profound for train drivers involved said former train driver and current Iarnród Éireann Inspector Joe Buchanan.

“Having an act of suicide take place in front of your train can have a life altering impact not just on drivers, but on their families too, as well as those of the person who sadly dies. I am here today to appeal to anyone struggling to cope to seek help to try and work through whatever is troubling them,” he said.