Letters | Hong Kong needs dedicated efforts to deal with rail suicide
- Readers discuss how the MTR can better respond to cases of suicide on the tracks, and objections to the Gay Games
The MTR must step up suicide prevention measures, and respond in a timely manner when such cases unfortunately occur.
Campaigns to prevent rail suicide are essentially non-existent. With suicide rates rising, the lack of awareness and the social stigma around mental health issues are of concern. In the United Kingdom, the “Small Talk Saves Lives” campaign encourages members of the public to talk to someone when they sense that the person is acting out of the ordinary at a railway station. The campaign also raises awareness about suicide prevention.
Similar rail suicide prevention campaigns should be launched and promoted citywide, through advertisements or posters in MTR stations, so that we get the message loud and clear to act if we feel something is wrong.
However, it is not wholly up to the public to intervene. MTR staff must be adequately trained to recognise and assist people in crisis, while also dealing with the emotional aftermath of witnessing a suicide and ensuring that train services can resume as quickly as possible.
If a rail suicide occurs, it is inevitable that there would be a large number of people witnessing the traumatic event, and those people may carry that trauma through their lives if they do not get proper support. MTR staff could not only help identify those at risk and help talk them out of suicide, but when the unthinkable happens, also pay attention to the mental state of bystanders.