A remarkable British-Pakistani rail worker has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) after preventing 29 suicide attempts since 2015.
East Londoner Rizwan Javed works at Ealing Broadway and Paddington stations on the MTR Elizabeth line. He was born and raised in Leyton.
Throughout the course of his employment at the platform, he has assisted in saving multiple lives by being vigilant and assisting those who are vulnerable under trying circumstances.
About eight years ago, Javed began working with the railway and completed the Samaritans training program.
He stated, “I am grateful to Allah for this honor.” My parents’ prayers have been the only reason I’ve been included in the King’s New Year’s Honors List. I consider it a great honor that my contribution in the field of mental health has been acknowledged in this manner.
The secret, he explained, is his work with the Samaritans. “I learned how to recognize vulnerable people, how to engage them, how to listen out for them, and how to get them to a point of safety with the Samaritans,” the man remarked.
In the first week of working for the railway, Javed prevented someone from killing themselves.
Mr. Javed, who formerly worked for Great Western Railway (GWR), was honored with the Samaritans Lifesaver Award in 2019—a recognition given to individuals who have saved lives through talking and listening.
He stated that he thinks Allah will always reward him for his deeds of kindness and for standing by individuals who don’t have anybody else to confide in or lean on. He gave tribute to his Pakistani parents for instilling in him the value of kindness and generosity from a young age.
According to him, his parents instilled in him the values of being a good and contributing member of society and making a positive impact.
Javed remembered a situation where he had spoken with a woman in her mid-20s when it became clear that she required assistance. She ran to me at the station a few days later and gave me a bear embrace. She claimed that if I hadn’t talked to her that evening and persuaded her that life was worthwhile, she wouldn’t be here now. That was incredibly fulfilling and emotional.
He claimed that there is a lack of knowledge about mental health concerns and their significant effects.
When Javed’s parents received the official letter from the government informing him that he would be receiving an MBE for his contributions, they were ecstatic.
He claimed that indicators that someone needs assistance include people’s facial expressions, clothing choices based on the weather, missing trains, acting strangely, wandering off, and inquiring about non-stopping services.
According to him, mental health problems impact every community, but more funding needs to be set aside to address them.
After the CBE and OBE, the MBE is the third-highest level of the Order of the British Empire (not including a knighthood or damehood).
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