SEPTEMBER MARKS National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. It provides an opportunity to share essential resources for those who are struggling with their mental health and teach people how to have difficult conversations about suicide.
In 2024, this important time of year overlaps with Rail Safety Week – the third week of September – which focuses on educating the public about safety around railroads. While it might not be obvious at first, suicide prevention and rail safety are deeply connected. Deaths by suicide are an unfortunate reality for every railroad in the United States. Data from the US Department of Transportation shows that for the last decade, more than 200 people have died by suicide each year within the nation’s rail system. Massachusetts is no exception.
Each one of these deaths is a tragedy for the loved ones who are left behind, with ripples that affect countless others, including the engineers, train crews, and first responders involved in the incidents. We must take action to help prevent these losses and support the many people impacted by them.
The stigma around suicide makes this month even more critical. Talking about suicide will not put the idea in someone’s mind, and having these difficult conversations can show people that they are not alone. Samaritans Inc., a Boston-based suicide prevention organization, has been doing this work for 50 years and in that time we have seen that, with training, anyone can learn how to provide emotional support. Listening with compassion, asking questions, and knowing how to connect people to free resources like the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can make all the difference.
That is why Keolis Commuter Services, the operating partner for the MBTA commuter rail, has expanded its partnership with Samaritans to bring much-needed attention to this issue and to help prevent suicide in Massachusetts. Together, Keolis and Samaritans aim to make Massachusetts a safer place to live and work, ensuring that everyone has somewhere to turn when they need emotional support.
Through this partnership, Samaritans will provide mental health and suicide prevention training to nearly 1,000 frontline commuter rail personnel. Samaritans and Keolis have collaborated directly with railroad employees to gain their perspective, tailor training to suit the needs of those doing the work, and incorporate expertise from Samaritans. Time and time again we hear that standardized training doesn’t quite get to the heart of the matter or engage the community in a way that utilizes their knowledge and skill. This training was developed with input from Keolis employees and key stakeholders to incorporate techniques for situations that commuter rail personnel may encounter in their work.
The program will teach frontline staff to identify people at risk for suicide, develop strategies for engaging with a person in crisis, whether it’s a colleague or a member of the public, and connect someone in need with mental health resources.
The goal is to give frontline workers the tools they need to help someone in distress, because the reality is that suicide and mental health issues can impact anyone. And it may not be obvious that a person is struggling. Through education and training, commuter rail personnel will be better able to identify warning signs and offer support, which can help save lives.
Sharing these important skills with commuter rail frontline personnel, encouraging employees to take care of their own mental health, and helping them to spot riders and colleagues who struggle is the right thing to do. Every life that is saved and supported makes partnerships like this one between Keolis and Samaritans a success.
Kathleen C. Marchi is CEO and president of Samaritans Inc. and Abdellah Chajai is general manager and CEO of Keolis Commuter Services.
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