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Monday 18 Jan 2021

Network Rail’s Southern Region join Samaritans in taking part in Brew Monday

Region & Route:

Southern: Kent

| Southern

Network Rail Southern Region is participating in ‘Brew Monday’ today (Monday January 18) to help passengers and staff make contact, reach out to each other and focus on mental wellbeing on what is thought to be the most difficult day of the year.

The Samaritans organised event is being held on what is known as ‘Blue Monday’. The term ‘Blue Monday’ coined in 2004 refers to the third Monday in January.

Network Rail’s Southern Region has participated in the event for the past seven years providing space at stations for Samaritans volunteers to talk to passengers but the current pandemic restrictions mean that isn’t possible this year. Instead messages will be displayed in and outside Network Rail stations, encouraging people to reach out over a ‘virtual cuppa’.

Network Rail staff across Kent, Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex will be holding virtual Brew events to check in on their colleagues, friends and family members that they cannot be with, to stay connected this winter.

And Author and illustrator Charlie Mackesy is also showing his support for the day this year by creating a special illustration to encourage rail passengers and staff to reach out to someone they care about and connect over a virtual cuppa this winter. He’s also made a video of himself making the illustration.

Speaking about his support for the campaign, Charlie said: “I’m happy to be able to share the Mole with Samaritans for Brew Monday. I hope people will see the drawing and consider sharing their own virtual piece of cake and a nice cup of tea with someone close to them. It has been a hard year for a lot of us and talking and being with loved ones means so much more to us now.”

It’s an opportunity to focus on mental health issues. The Samaritans has found that over half (58%) of UK adults feel that speaking regularly to friends and family either on the phone, via video calls or in person over the last year had a positive effect on their mental wellbeing.

John Halsall, Managing Director for Network Rail Southern Region, will be hosting the event for staff of the Southern Region and said: “It’s so important, this year especially, that we make time to take care of ourselves and check in on each other.

“We’ll be holding our Brew Monday event to which we’re hoping many of our people will drop into and talk about issues which affect them.

“Putting wellbeing at the top of the agenda is good for all of us, not least the passengers and freight users we serve, because a happier, healthier workforce is a more efficient, successful workforce.”

Julie Bentley, Samaritans’ CEO, said: “We’re so grateful to Network Rail and the rail industry for their support of Brew Monday this year.

“The challenges that many people face during this season have been felt even more acutely this year with the pandemic restrictions.

“At Samaritans, we know how powerful talking and listening, even if it is virtually, can be.

“It doesn’t have to be a Monday or a cup of tea, it’s about taking the time to really listen and supporting one another, which could potentially save a life.”

The Brew Monday support is a part of the rail industry’s suicide prevention programme. Samaritans has worked in partnership with Network Rail, on behalf of the rail industry, to reduce suicides on the railway for over 10 years, having trained over 22,000 rail and BTP staff to look out for passengers and make conversation if they feel someone might be vulnerable.