ScotRail has been recognised for its work on suicide prevention and mental health at the Scottish First Aid Awards.
The train operator won Employer of the Year for First Aid Excellence at the prestigious award ceremony which took place at the Radisson Blu on Friday, 31 March 2023.
From the onset of the pandemic, ScotRail enhanced its longstanding work to promote positive mental health, recognising the importance of keeping mental health awareness and support at the forefront of people’s minds.
As part of this work, ScotRail introduced Trauma Support Training for its frontline management team to ensure staff who may be involved in, or witness to, a traumatic event receive the appropriate support in these upsetting times.
In October 2021, ScotRail introduced its Travel Safe Team, who work closely with British Transport Police, to support customers and colleagues in the promotion of a safe railway environment, both on train and in stations.
The train operator has recruited a Safeguarding Manager to support the team and help look out for vulnerable people who may be travelling on the rail network.
ScotRail also has 60 mental health first aiders across Scotland who have received extensive training through NHS-accredited material. The training has provided staff with the skills needed to be able to identify someone who is developing a mental health issue and guide them to the relevant service.
Now in its tenth year, the Scottish First Aid Awards are held by St Andrew’s First Aid to recognise extraordinary people, schools, communities, and employers across Scotland who have gone above-and-beyond their legal first aid responsibilities to make their communities safer by delivering outstanding acts of first aid.
Martine Gravil, ScotRail Fatigue Manager, said:
“We are delighted to receive this recognition for the important work we are doing to promote positive mental health across Scotland’s Railway.
“The challenges faced by our staff and those in the communities we serve has been at the forefront of our minds in recent years.
“ScotRail worked tirelessly to ensure people felt safe and confident to travel when being welcomed back to the railway following the pandemic, and we’ll continue to promote positive mental health and reach as many people as possible across Scotland in the months and years ahead.”