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Friday 12 Jan 2018

Rail staff support Samaritans to turn 'Blue Monday' around with a cuppa

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Rail staff across the South Western network are backing Samaritans’ bid to turn ‘Blue Monday’ into ‘Brew Monday’ on 15 January by helping get people together for tea and a chat on what has been dubbed ‘the most difficult day of the year’.

Members of rail staff will be out alongside Samaritans volunteers at stations on the day encouraging people to connect over a cuppa by offering passengers free tea bags and listening tips, as well as promoting Samaritans’ services.

A spokesperson from Samaritans said:

“We’re thrilled to be taking part in Brew Monday. We want to highlight the value of people taking time to chat, rather than going it alone with their thoughts. You don’t need special skills to encourage someone to open up over a cuppa. And, for anyone who feels they have nowhere to turn, our volunteers are there. It’s free to call us from any phone or you can email us or talk to someone face to face at your local branch of Samaritans.”

‘Brew Monday’ has the support of Network Rail, British Transport Police and the wider rail industry, thanks to a life-saving partnership with Samaritans that aims to reduce suicide on the railways.

Ian Stevens from Network Rail, who leads the Suicide Prevention programme on behalf of the rail industry, said:

 “Brew Monday is a great opportunity to use our partnership with Samaritans to reach out to people who may be struggling at this time of year and encourage them to open up and have a chat. Rail staff will be out in force alongside Samaritans volunteers in railway stations up and down the country urging passengers to reach out to friends and loved ones over a cup of tea, rather than suffering in silence.”

Rail staff and Samaritans volunteers will be at Bournemouth, Farnborough, Guildford, Surbiton, Fratton, Wimbledon, Southampton Central, Woking and Winchester stations on Monday 15 January.

You can find out more about Brew Monday at www.samaritans.org/brewmonday or follow @samaritans on Twitter, @samaritanscharity on Instagram, hashtag #BrewMonday, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/samaritanscharity.

ENDS