A SENATOR has called for DART stations in Dublin and the Greater Dublin area to be manned at all times with trained suicide-prevention workers.
It comes after two separate fatal incidents at DART stations in recent weeks.
On average, one person takes their life on Ireland's rail network every month.
Labour Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin says he believes an urgent response is needed to the tragedies.
“In the past month there have been two fatalities at Howth Junction and Harmonstown DART stations," he said.
"These incidents have placed focus again on the severe mental health crisis our country is facing, and have caused untold distress and trauma for the families of the deceased, their friends and also DART drivers and emergency services who respond to these incidents,” he said.
Unmanned stations
Mr Ríordáin said young people affected by this week’s tragedy in Harmonstown have blamed unmanned DART stations at night time for contributing.
“There is no easy solution to the complex issues of mental health, self-harm or suicide, but we must respond as a community and as a society to what is happening to our young people,” he said.
"If we had a manned presence there some kind of interaction could take place, some kind of intervention could take place".
The senator added: "Having manned stations at all times with trained personnel who can respond effectively to any given situation would go some way to addressing the issue."
If you need to talk to someone, Samaritans are available here or by calling 116 123.
See More: DART, Dublin, Mental Health, Suicide, Train Death, Train Stations
