It was Christmas 2008, and Chris Parker planned to end his life - but circumstances changes and Chris ended up walking away. That situation changed his life forever. It took several years to appreciate what happened. Fast forward a few years, and Chris joined Network Rail's Train Planning department. He observed Network Rail’s culture and attitude towards mental health at that time. He knew there was room for improvement. It set him off on a mission to help bring postitive change to the organisation. In this session, Chris shares his experience of his mental health struggle and how our industry’s approach to employees’ mental health has changed over the years and that no matter what level you are in an organisation, you can help to facilitate change.
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RWL 2021 preview!

Living with pain: from fighting to flourishing
Vidyamala Burch has suffered with chronic pain for over 30 years due to congenital weakness, a car accident and unsuccessful surgery. She is now a wheelchair user. In this positive and reassuring talk, she identifies that it is our resistance to pain which causes it to be so distressing and miserable. She shares easy-to follow breathing techniques and powerful mindfulness meditations teach you how to live in the present moment.

Untangle your anxiety
Psychotherapist Joshua Fletcher discusses the various ways anxiety can manifest in individuals. He creates a sense of understanding and awareness by discussing what anxiety is, how it presents differently in people, and how to address it. Drawing from his professional expertise and personal experience with panic disorder and OCD, he offers a unique perspective on managing anxiety.