Partnership working between the Trust and Network Rail to improve commuter’s mental health on the railways has been so successful rail bosses are now expanding it onto other lines across the country.

The programme is the first of its kind with an approach that takes mental health and wellbeing back into the communities where staff and passengers begin their journeys.

A ‘hub and spoke model’ where each railway route has an embedded mental health nurse as part of a national team sharing best practice and accelerating successful projects across the whole transport network will be at the centre of the new plans

The programme began life on the Anglia Route into London’s Liverpool Street in 2020.

Since then, life-saving interventions have taken place there which would not have been possible without the co-ordinated joint work approach developed by Nurse Lead for Mental Health Rachel Luby.

Rachel has helped to create positive decision-making plans for nearly 100 people and trained staff on how to be aware of and support people who may be struggling, led to improved mental health outcomes, and seen an increase in the numbers of people receiving support from community mental health and substance misuse teams

Projected financial savings made by the reduced disruption to services has been substantial.

Partnership working between British Transport Police, Network Rail, ELFT, other NHS trusts, voluntary sector and public health teams has successfully prevented people from coming to harm on the Anglia region railway network. It has also led to improved outcomes for those that have gone to stations when in crisis.

These successes have meant that other rail operators have seen the benefits of applying the ELFT/Network Rail embedded mental health nurse model.

Rachel has been seconded from ELFT to Network Rail who will be funding the  expanded programme.

Rachel’s will continue to bring awareness about mental health and wellbeing to the wider commuting public and transport staff, promote access and signpost to mental health services and advise train operators about dissuasion messaging.

Rachel has a nursing background in psychiatric intensive care, forensics and crisis services. She was named Mental Health Nurse of the Year by the Royal College of Nursing in 2019.

Commenting on the success of the programme so far and the expansion of the service Rachel said:

“Partnership working has been central to the success of my role until now, and that is the model of good practice I want to see develop and expand.

“I also want to see as many people as possible in the community trained and knowledgeable about suicide prevention – to make it as ‘normal’ as training in basic life saving techniques.

“But perhaps crucial to all of this is to further utilise the voice of service users and people with lived experience of suicidality and bereavement, for them to be at the centre of decision making. That has always been central to how we work across ELFT.”

Network Rail’s Suicide Prevention Programme Manager Becky Wray said:

“We are absolutely delighted that Rachel has agreed to lead the expansion of this important programme.

“The positive impact on both our staff and the wider travelling public in terms of improved mental health and wellbeing is immeasurable.”

Commenting on the expansion of Rachel’s role, ELFT’s Director of People Participation Paul Binfield said:

“Rachel is dynamic, empathetic and highly skilled in her role.

“I can’t think of anyone better placed to lead the development of this crucial programme.”