A member of parliament has written to Network Rail informing them about the security measures at the stations.

Mary Kelly Foy, Labour MP for Durham, said she was concerned about the issue because of the number of suicides in recent months.

She said local mental health groups such as the Man Club and the Wo-man Club had reached out to her with concerns about the issue.

Kathryn Oliver of the Wo-man Club said she was pleased that Ms Foy was raising awareness of such a “necessary issue”.

In the letter, Ms Foy said that as a regular rail user, particularly in Durham, it was “very obvious that security measures vary from station to station”.

She said she was keen to know what safety measures were being taken at train stations and what could be done to make stations safer for people experiencing mental health crises.

She said she hoped to arrange a meeting with the rail organisation, adding: “I am sure that if we work together we could save valuable lives.”

Adam Oliver, founder of Durham’s Man Club, said more measures could be taken at some stations to help people in mental health crises.

Mr Oliver said he came close to taking his own life in 2020, but suddenly felt the urge to contact someone.

“If I hadn’t had that, I would have been minutes away from taking my own life,” he said.

The military veteran founded the Man Club in 2022 to support men in Durham struggling with their mental health.

Network Rail has been approached for comment.

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