Helping save lives on the bus network
A ground-breaking partnership between First Bus and Suicide Prevention UK has helped bus drivers and passengers recognise the signs of suicide, raise awareness across the network and ensure more people in crisis know that support is available.
Public transport plays a vital role in everyday life, connecting people to work, education and communities. But new research revealed a far more troubling reality; increasing numbers of people at risk of suicide are using buses to travel to the place where they plan to take their lives.
For our First Bus team in the West of England, the findings highlighted a responsibility that went beyond moving people from A to B. In partnership with Bristol-based charity Suicide Prevention UK (SPUK), the company launched what was believed to be the first suicide prevention partnership of its kind, and at this scale, in the UK, designed to raise awareness, equip frontline staff and help save lives.
A growing and hidden challenge
Data gathered by Suicide Prevention UK showed that at least three in 50 people (around 6%) who were found to be at risk of suicide had taken public transport to reach the location where they planned to take their life - a figure that has increased in recent years.
People cited a number of reasons for travelling by bus, including affordability, anonymity, not feeling able to drive and knowing routes passed high-risk locations such as bridges, open water or isolated areas. For many, time alone on a bus journey provided space for distressing thoughts to intensify.
“The research we’re hearing from Suicide Prevention UK is so compelling,” explains Doug Claringbold, Managing Director of First Bus in the West of England. “It highlights the really important role our drivers can have in helping to save lives.”
A partnership built around prevention
Launched in 2024, the partnership brought together SPUK’s frontline expertise and First Bus' reach across the west of England
At its heart was the ‘There is someone…’ campaign, a simple but powerful message designed to remind people in crisis that help is available, and that someone is there to listen.
The collaboration included:
- Enhanced suicide prevention training for bus drivers, helping them recognise physical, visual and behavioural signs of distress
- Guidance on identifying suicide high-risk locations along bus routes
- Clear processes for drivers to get help quickly if they are concerned about a passenger
- An on-board awareness campaign across more than 500 buses, reaching up to 1.5 million passengers every week
- Free bus travel for Suicide Prevention UK volunteers while on patrol
“Some people take the bus industry for granted,” Doug adds, “but it’s about our place in wider society. Through this partnership we can play our role in providing help in what is often a taboo area.”
An on-board campaign reached up to 1.5million passengers per week
Equipping drivers on the frontline
Bus drivers are uniquely placed; they see thousands of people every week, often at close quarters, and often at moments of vulnerability.
As part of the partnership, existing training was strengthened to include real-world scenarios, signs to look out for, and practical steps drivers can take if something doesn’t feel right.
“We have drivers who ring us to say, ‘there’s a person on the bus I’m not too sure about’,” says Bath Platform Inspector Colin Partridge, who previously helped prevent a suicide while working at Bath Bus Station. “Sometimes you have to make the effort to have a conversation with those who you think might need help and support.”
Hear more from Colin Partridge
Measurable impact and national recognition
Within eight months of the partnership, Suicide Prevention UK said the number of callers mentioning buses when contacting its national helpline increased significantly. Calls had been received from across the UK, including Belfast, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Manchester and London, alongside dozens from the west of England.
Over the first eight months:
- More than 400 drivers received suicide prevention guidance
- Around 350 new drivers entering the industry were trained
- Over 100 travel passes were issued to SPUK volunteer patrols
The partnership’s impact has also been recognised nationally, with the collaboration winning highly commended at the UK Bus Awards' Bus and The Community category, and shortlisted for Best Alliance/Collaboration of the Year at the National Transport Awards.
“It’s sad that so many people in crisis use buses,” says Marianne Ramnath, Operations Manager at Suicide Prevention UK, “but the increase in people mentioning buses shows that visibility matters. Passengers can see our details and feel it’s OK to reach out.”
Marianne Ramnath, Operations Manager at Suicide Prevention UK and First Bus Platform Inspector Colin Partridge
A model for the wider transport sector
For First Bus, the partnership demonstrates how transport operators can play a meaningful role in tackling complex social issues.
“Our drivers come into contact with thousands of customers every day,” says Neely Good, Training and Recruitment Officer at First West of England. “Among them will be people struggling with their mental health. It’s important we arm drivers with the information that allows them to signpost help.”
By combining training, awareness and practical support, the partnership has created a scalable model that shows how public transport can be part of the solution, helping to reduce stigma, encourage conversations, and ultimately save lives.