BRITISH Transport Police linked up with Samaritans, Oxford Health and Mind to run a World Suicide Prevention Day stall in Oxford station this morning.

Commuters were given general information, advice and signposting to mental health services during the initiative, which ran from 7am to 11am.

British Transport Police say they deal with mental health issues in Oxfordshire on a weekly basis.

PC Matthew Autery said: "We are just here to tell people what services are available."

Oxford Health Team Manager David Agnew, added: "People can just pick the phone up, give us a call and we can support them. We have a free, confidential NHS service. Its easy to use and we have great treatment available to anyone over 18."

The scheme follows news that a man died at an Oxford level crossing on August 30.

An Oxford-born commuter, 37, said the stall was doing an 'amazing job'.

He added "[Schemes like this are] good for public awareness and I think community policing probably is the way forward. They're doing an amazing job.

At the railway station we have got to be a community. It's about training at the station.

I left British Transport Police because the stress from seeing mental health problems.

"I think the BTP do an amazing job."

A Samaritans volunteer at the station said: The key thing is prevention. We can't stop people doing what they want to do but we can give them the chance to talk about it first.

"Listening is what we do. We don't give advice."

UK Samaritans can be reached for free from any telephone on 116 123 at all hours.

The NHS service TalkingSpace Plus can be contacted on 01865 901 222. More information is available at talkingspaceplus.org.uk

British Transport Police have a number of services listed on their website, at btp.police.uk/support.

Oxfordshire Mind's mental health information line can be reached on 01865 247 788.