Network Rail: A new approach to understanding suicide prevention on the Great Britain’s railways

Network Rail, the owner of most of the railway network in Great Britain, used anthropological and ethnographic research methods to explore railway suicide.

Context

Every 36 hours someone will choose to end their life on Britain's railways.

Each incident is a tragedy: the impact on friends and families immeasurable. Unsuspecting witnesses, bystanders and communities are traumatised. 10 railway staff will also be affected. Many of these will need extended periods of counselling and care. Some will never return to work.

Sadly, after a period of decline, the trend in suicides on the railway in Britain is rising. In 2010, the rail industry created a suicide prevention team charged with reducing the number of 'actual and attempted' suicides on the network, and the trauma...

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