While a new year can mean a new start, it can also be a very challenging time for many facing struggles With the additional pressure and mental health struggles, the Samaritans campaign to make the third Monday of January ‘brew Monday’, a day where people are encouraged to get talking over a cuppa.
Transport for Wales is supporting campaigns including Small Talk Saves Lives and Brew Monday to get people talking. One train manager who has experienced plenty of experience in making interventions is Cardiff-based Lydia Sheppard. In the last year, she has intervened with three customers facing very difficult situations. She said:
“On two of those occasions it was fairly obvious they were in a lot of distress but on the third it was very much that something didn’t seem right. The lady had just put someone on the train but was stood crying on the platform edge and I just got a feeling it was more than just upset at saying goodbye.”
With just four minutes until the next fast train came through, Lydia requested a line block and contacted the British Transport Police who came and helped the lady. On another occasion, a customer had gone onto the line at the end of the platform and Lydia had to speak to her until help arrived.
“The biggest thing is to keep calm and reassure them that they aren’t in trouble even if they hear sirens. If someone is in distress just taking a moment to say ‘hello’ can break that thought pattern they might be having.”