A ScotRail employee has been nominated for a top award in recognition for his quick-thinking actions when identifying a vulnerable person.
Customer Service Team Leader Christopher Harvie has been nominated for the Samaritans Lifesaver Award at the upcoming Rail Staff Awards 2019.
Christopher intervened to help a distressed customer in Haymarket station on Thursday, 8 August 2019.
His actions to comfort the customer and usher them to a place of safety until the emergency services arrived prevented the person from coming to any harm.
Christopher is one of over 50 ScotRail employees who recently received mental health first aid training, allowing him to provide guidance and signpost support services to anyone experiencing problems.
ScotRail’s mental health first aiders received extensive training through NHS-accredited material and are able to identify someone who is developing a mental health issue and guide them to the relevant support service.
The nomination coincides with World Mental Health Day today, Thursday, 10 October 2019.
Representatives from the Samaritans have also been taking part in events at Paisley Gilmour Street station yesterday, 9 October, and today at Edinburgh Waverley to talk about their #RealPeopleRealStories campaign.
ScotRail Head of Customer Operations Phil Campbell said:
“Christopher is a credit to Scotland’s Railway and it’s fantastic to see that our mental health training has had a positive effect.
“Even if it’s just one person going through a difficult time that gets the help they need then it’s all worthwhile.”
ScotRail Customer Service Team Leader Christopher Harvie said:
“The mental health first aid training I received was really helpful in giving me valuable skills to notice the signs of a person in need.
“I am really happy that I was able to use those skills and play a part in helping to potentially save someone’s life.”