Rizwan Javed's day at work at Paddington station was unfolding just like any other when he was spotted by a stranger in the crowd.
asserted
he → unfold → crowd
A woman separated herself from the hordes of commuters, ran straight towards the TfL worker and flung her arms around him.
'I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you,' she said.
Because Mr Javed, 36, is no ordinary employee.
asserted
Javed → separate → you
In fact, he may have saved the lives of at least 34 people, simply by striking up a conversation.
uncertain
he → save → conversation
Assisted by training provided by Samaritans, Mr Javed, who works at Paddington's Elizabeth Line station, has stepped in to assist dozens of people who were considering ending their lives.
asserted
who → assist → lives
'I'll talk about the weather, or a garment they're wearing, or even ask them for a coffee,' he told the Daily Mail.
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he → talk → Mail
'I might just say, "Hi, you look like you could do with a cup of tea."
uncertain
you → say → tea
It's just about engaging in that conversation and interrupting that person's thought process.'
asserted
It → engage → process
His advice comes as new Samaritans research has found just one in ten people feel comfortable intervening when concerned about someone's wellbeing.
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people → come → wellbeing
Rizwan Javed, 36, has helped save the lives of at least 34 people while working for TfL
If Mr Javed suspects someone may be at risk of suicide at the station, he will strike up a conversation by asking them about the weather or if they want a cup of coffee
uncertain
they → help → coffee
The suicide prevention charity has now launched its new campaign, Interruptions, aiming to show the public that a simple act of connection with someone can help stop suicidal thoughts in their tracks and potentially save a life.
asserted
act → launch → life
Mr Javed described how his training taught him that a person's facial expressions, clothing or behaviour can all be key signs that they are in distress, but stressed: 'Sometimes there's no specific signs, and you're just taught to trust your instincts.
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you → describe → instincts
If you feel something is wrong, challenge it, build a conversation with that person
asserted
something → feel → person
Research found that members of the public cite fear as the leading reason they would not intervene if they thought they saw someone who might be suicidal.
uncertain
who → find → someone
Polling found a third of adults fear they would say the wrong thing, with the same proportion worried they would make the situation worse.
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situation → find → thing
Some 32 per cent of people also don't feel confident recognising signs of distress, while 27 per cent say they would not intervene because they don't want to invade the person's privacy.
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they → feel → privacy
Three in ten people regret not reaching out to someone who was struggling, and 85 per cent believe that just having a conversation with someone who is struggling can have a positive impact.
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who → regret → impact
For Mr Javed, speaking to someone in crisis on the railway is the key intervention.
'
asserted
speaking → speak → railway
I feel like a simple conversation can save a life, that's all it is - interrupting that person's thought process at that time, listening to them and letting them offload.
asserted
them → feel → them
Samaritans has launched its new campaign, Interruptions, after research showed only one in ten people would intervene if they saw someone they thought was struggling or in distress
The campaign has seen messages from the charity jetwashed into pavements around London to encourage more discussion around mental health
'
asserted
messages → launch → health
When I had my first interaction with someone [in crisis], I felt like, am I going to say the right thing, do the right thing, will I make it worse?
asserted
it → have → thing
But the truth is you can't make the situation worse for that person.
asserted
situation → make → person
There's nothing you can say that will make it worse.
asserted
it → be → ?
It's about how you listen and respond to them.
asserted
you → listen → them
'You are probably the first person that they have opened up to.
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they → open → that
For Mr Javed, the first person he helped who was considering ending their own life was a young woman who he sat with and spoke to for two hours.
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he → help → hours
In that time, she agreed for her family to come and see her and police were called for additional support.
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police → agree → support
Several weeks later, she arrived back at the station, instantly recognised him and thanked him for saving her life.
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she → arrive → life
'That one woman will always stick with me because she was my age and she returned to tell me she was ok.
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she → stick → me
'Sometimes people in vulnerable situations turn to random strangers, or to the railway, because they will probably never see that person again.'
asserted
they → turn → person
Mr Javed believes that 'a simple conversation could change a person's life', and it is this quote that is being displayed on Camden High Street in London as part of the Samaritans campaign.
uncertain
that → believe → campaign
Other phrases, including reminding people who may be struggling that suicidal thoughts are often temporary, are on display in Covent Garden, near Tottenham Court Road and on Alexandra Road Park in Camden.
uncertain
thoughts → include → Camden
The first few times he intervened to help someone contemplating ending their life, Mr Javed kept it to himself.
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Javed → intervene → himself
'I will always hold those stories close to me because each one of them has made me who I am today, they've taught me, they've helped me in so many ways and developed me as a person as well.
asserted
they → hold → person
'It helps me talking about it.
asserted
It → help → it
In the first few instances I didn't really talk about it and it was affecting me, but now I always share my story.'
asserted
I → talk → story
As well as speaking about his experiences with friends and family, Mr Javed has social media accounts he dedicates to posting about mental health and educating others.
asserted
he → speak → others
He was awarded an MBE for his efforts in 2024.
asserted
He → award → 2024
He says sharing his story has 'inspired' lots of people, with others from countries across the world reaching out to him.
asserted
others → say → him
'A lot of people get in touch and say it has given them the confidence to step in and disrupt that person's thought process,' he said.
asserted
he → get → process
'We've all got loved ones and we never want anyone to go through that.
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anyone → get → that
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
