The number of suicides on the rail network in Scotland has fallen, according to new figures released by the Samaritans.
Following 16 suicides on the rail network in Scotland between 2009/20101, the number of deaths for 2010/2011 has fallen to 13.
The reduction follows the Samaritans introducing a programme to raise awareness of the issue among rail network staff and to offer support and help with prevention.
While the overall rates of suicides have generally been declining over the last decade, the number of suicides on the railways in the UK has consistently remained above 200 per year.
The training forms part of a partnership between Network Rail and Samaritans to reduce railway suicides by 20% over five years which was launched in January 2010.
With £5m of investment from Network Rail, the five-year project includes training staff in intervention, support for staff following a trauma and help for witnesses.
It also involves an awareness campaign for those most at risk. After finding the majority of rail suicides involve men, their national awareness campaign specifically targets men in their 30s, 40s and 50s, with posters and adverts around stations and ticket barriers.
Andrew Sim, the director of Samaritans in Scotland, said: "This partnership is the first coordinated national approach to suicide prevention on the rail network.
"We are pleased to see that, within the first year of delivering the project, we already have examples of staff being able to intervene
in potentially tragic situations.
"Whilst the reduction in the actual number of deaths on the railways in Scotland is small, each life saved is encouraging. This programme of work shows our commitment to ensuring the figures decline year on year."
More than 1,000 staff at 220 locations across the UK's rail network have now received the organisation's suicide prevention training over the past year.
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/258130-f...s-in-scotland/
