On-Demand

It was Christmas 2008, and Chris Parker planned to end his life - but circumstances changes and Chris ended up walking away. That situation changed his life forever. It took several years to appreciate what happened. Fast forward a few years, and Chris joined Network Rail's Train Planning department. He observed Network Rail’s culture and attitude towards mental health at that time. He knew there was room for improvement.

Everyone should be able to do their job without someone threatening, assaulting or harming them. But on the railway’s front line, sadly, that isn’t always the case. In fact, RSSB statistics show that a staggering 94.1% of frontline staff have experienced workplace abuse. In this session, British Transport Police’s Inspector Keith Barnes describes how incidents of violence against railway staff can occur and how to de-escalate them. He also talks about how body-worn cameras can be both a deterrent and an aid to evidence-gathering once an assault has occurred.

Gain insight on how the rapid changes in today's world are influencing children's brains. As technology advances and urbanisation intensifies, children face both unique opportunities and significant challenges. This session will delve into how these factors impact cognitive functions, behaviour, and emotional wellbeing. Prof. Sam Wass discusses how modern technology can affect children’s brains and what parents and carers can do to support children’s attention in the age of constant digital distraction.

Good footwear that meets health and safety requirements is essential in the industry but knowing how to take care of what goes inside your boots (feet) is also important. By taking care of your feet, foot and ankle injuries can be avoided. This can also improve overall comfort when working long hours on uneven surfaces. Kelly Edwards, a podiatrist with experience working with the railway industry, shows you simple ways to help you feel better and healthier on your feet.

Drawing from his experience in the music industry, Dr Simon Rowbottom shares insights into how long hours, night shifts, being on the road and time away from home can contribute to some significant mental health issues. He also offers practical tips on how to improve health and wellbeing when working irregular and long hours and sometimes away from home.

Dr Sophie Mort helps you understand why we all feel anxious, stressed, insecure and down from time to time. Her three-step methodology helps you to identify problems arising from past experiences and current life events, and look at the patterns, bad habits and negative cycles that may make you feel stuck. Then, by drawing on established, proven therapeutic techniques, provides a toolkit of go-to techniques to use whenever you need them. This session offers support to those feeling lost at sea in today’s troubling times and gives you the tools to help get the most out of life.