Some conversations stay with you long after they finish.
At Rail Wellbeing Live 2026, this session on suicide awareness in the workplace was one of them. Honest, human and quietly powerful, it brought together voices from across BAM UK and Ireland to explore what really happens when work, pressure and personal struggles collide.
Set against the backdrop of everyday workplace processes like redundancy, dismissal and investigations, the discussion gently challenged a familiar question. What does it really mean to look after people at work?
Putting people before process
From the outset, the tone was clear. Yes, businesses need to follow rules, but they also need to remember the human being on the other side of them.
Rhianwen Condron reflected on a noticeable shift over the past year. More people are speaking up.
“We’ve seen a big increase in the number of people coming forward telling us that they’re struggling… people who are undergoing business processes don’t necessarily feel that they’re being supported as they would wish.”
It is a simple observation, but an important one. As more people find the confidence to talk about how they feel, organisations are being asked to respond differently.
Ruth Pott captured it perfectly when she said:
“For the person at the other end, it may be their first time. They will be scared, they’ll be confused, they’ll be anxious. Every piece of communication matters.”
It is a reminder that what may feel routine to an organisation can feel life changing to an individual.
Stories that bring it home
What made this session stand out was not just what was said, but how it was said. There was no distance in the stories shared. They were personal, open and deeply moving.
James Walsh spoke about his brother Paul, who died in 2023 after struggling with addiction and mental health challenges, made worse by losing his job.
“The difference between life and death could be the right sort of support leading to potential rehabilitation,” he said.
It is a line that stays with you. Because it speaks to something many workplaces are still learning. Support is not just a nice to have. Sometimes it changes everything.
Steve Grey’s story offered another perspective. Years earlier, while leading a demanding project, he found himself quietly struggling.
“I couldn’t tell anyone about my thoughts… I was supposed to be the strong person.”
That expectation, to hold everything together, is one many people will recognise.
When he finally spoke up, things began to shift.
“Once I admitted it… I got great support from work and home life.”
It is a simple turning point, but a powerful one.
A quieter shift towards support
Running through the session was a sense that things are changing, even if slowly.
Where once support might have meant pointing someone towards a helpline or website, the approach is becoming more human and more immediate.
“We will offer counselling immediately,” Rhianwen explained, “being proactive with getting a counsellor to phone the individual directly.”
Steve added to this thought:
“It’s not only about offering the service… it’s about being proactive and actually contacting individuals.”
It is a small shift in approach, but one that can make a big difference at the right moment. The moments we don’t always see.
The conversation also explored something less visible. The hidden weight that workplace changes can bring.
Losing a job is not just about money. It can affect identity, confidence and a sense of direction.
“You completely lose your livelihood, your income stream, your pride,” James said. “And that can be devastating.”
Ruth challenged a long held assumption that compensation softens the blow.
“There’s always been a belief that paying additional money makes it okay. I actually now know it absolutely floors some people.”
It is a reminder that people experience these moments in very different ways.
Small moments, big impact
Sometimes, it is not the big decisions that stay with people. It is the small moments.
The session shared a simple but striking example. A delayed reply during a redundancy process left someone feeling like they did not matter.
It may seem minor, but it highlights something important. When people are already feeling uncertain, every interaction carries weight.
Creating space to be honest
So what helps?
Culture came up again and again. Not as a buzzword, but as something built day by day through relationships and conversations.
“It is okay not to be okay,” Rhianwen said. “It’s about being open.”
And that openness often starts at the top. When leaders share their own experiences, it sets a tone that others can follow.
A message that matters
Towards the end of the session, the focus turned gently to anyone listening who might be struggling.
James offered a message that felt both simple and sincere:
“You will get better, things can improve… once you’ve made that first step, your journey has already begun. You are not alone.”
Rhianwen added:
“There is always hope and you matter. Please reach out to somebody.”
These are not complicated messages. But they are important ones.
A lasting takeaway
If there is one feeling that stays with you after this session, it is this.
Workplaces are made up of people, each carrying their own stories, pressures and challenges. Processes matter, but people matter more.
As Ruth Pott put it so clearly:
“Please remember that we’re dealing with human beings… it is absolutely the right thing to do.”
Watch the full session above to hear these stories in their own words and take a moment to reflect on what each of us can do to support the people around us.