Rail staff to train in self-harm awareness

The Age (Victoria)

TrackSafe, an Australian railway industry group, has launched an effort to reduce the number of suicide deaths on the country’s railroad lines. Each year there are approximately 150 such deaths in Australia. The group has created a database designed to collect information that might reveal patterns and opportunities for prevention. After a three-month trial period, according to the quarterly report of the Australasian Railway Association, some trends are already emerging: ”For example, an overwhelming majority of trespassers are shown to be male and most trespass incidents occur in the late afternoon and at night.” In collaboration with suicide prevention and mental health specialists, the association has scheduled an initial workshop to teach station staff how to recognize warning behaviors on the platform.