FREE life-saving suicide intervention and prevention training is being offered to taxi drivers in Eastbourne and Seaford.
The Taxi Watch programme, operated by the suicide prevention and awareness charity Talk To Tom, teaches professional drivers how to spot the signs of a person suffering through a suicide crisis, how to react, and how to get the person to safety.
The county council is one of the first local authorities in the country to offer local drivers this training, which is based on the charity’s hugely successful QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) programme. The training has been commissioned as part of the council’s broader suicide prevention strategy and is supported by Eastbourne Borough Council and Lewes District Council.
Taxi Watch was originally founded by Irish taxi driver Derek Devoy, who developed the initiative after encountering two suicidal individuals in one night.
Representatives from the councils involved were recently joined by Derek and drivers from Eastbourne taxi firms, as well as a representative of the independent taxi drivers from the Unite Union covering the Lewes district, to mark the launch of the programme.
Eastbourne taxi firms 720 Taxis and Sussex Cars will be supporting their drivers to take part in the upcoming training courses.
Conservative councillor Carl Maynard, lead member for adult social care and health, said: “Taxi Watch is a fantastic initiative that can help save lives, and I am delighted we are offering this training to taxi drivers in Eastbourne and Seaford.
“The course will equip taxi operators with the skills needed to identify a mental health emergency, giving them the tools they need to help save a life. I urge drivers who operate in Eastbourne and Seaford to sign up for the free training courses taking place.”
For more information on Taxi Watch visit www.taxiwatch.co.uk
