‘For Men To Talk’ at Network Rail Safety Day in Hitchin
On Monday 29 September, the Network Rail Maintenance Delivery Unit (MDU) in Hitchin held its Network Rail Safety Day. The day brought together a wide range of stalls and charities to speak with staff in-between workshops. One of those organisations was ‘For Men To Talk’, a local peer support group helping men open up about mental health.
The timing of the event underlined its importance. On the very same morning, British Transport Police officers were called to both St Albans and Three Bridges stations, after two people sadly died on the railway. These incidents disrupted Thameslink and other rail services near London and highlighted the real human and social cost of suicide on the network.
The Scale of the Problem
Rail suicides remain a huge challenge across Great Britain. A recent report for the House of Commons Library (August 2024) explained:
- In 2022/23 there were 290 fatalities on the railway, and 265 were suicide or suspected suicide.
- Since 2011, there have been 280–360 suicide attempts each year on the railway.
- The financial cost of a single suicide is estimated at £275,000, and in 2020/21 almost 358,000 minutes of train delays were linked to suicide incidents.
- In 2023/24, British Transport Police officers carried out 2,242 life-saving interventions, averaging more than 40 each week.
Behind these numbers are real people, real families, and real communities who are left grieving.
Why Mental Health Support Matters
This is why the presence of organisations such as ‘For Men To Talk’ at the Safety Day is so important. The group provides a safe place for men to share their struggles with mental health, whether that’s anxiety, depression, grief, or other personal challenges.
Founder Luke Newman explained:
“We have physical meetings in the railway station towns of Hitchin, Sandy, Flitwick and St Neots. It’s important to highlight this. Many of the men we support live and travel through these communities every day. By holding our meetings here, we are closer to the people who might need us most.”
‘For Men To Talk’ offers different ways for men to connect: traditional sit-down meetings, virtual sessions, walking meetups, and even fishing trips. There are no rules, no registrations, and no pressure. Men can talk as much or as little as they want, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive space.
Working Together to Save Lives
Network Rail, train operators, and British Transport Police all play a vital role in reducing suicides on the railway. But prevention also means breaking down the stigma around mental health and encouraging open conversations before someone reaches a crisis point.
Events like the Network Rail Safety Day show how businesses, charities, and frontline workers can come together to share information, raise awareness, and support staff.
Every conversation could make a difference. As Luke Newman and ‘For Men To Talk’ remind us, sometimes the simplest act—just talking—can save a life.