National Highways Trials New Mental Health Initiative Across Southern Road Network

National Highways has partnered with mental health charity Chasing the Stigma to launch a pioneering initiative aimed at helping people access support before they reach crisis point, with new roadside signage set to be introduced across parts of Sussex and Hampshire.

The 12-month pilot will see QR code-enabled signs installed at key locations on the strategic road network, allowing members of the public to quickly connect with local mental health services through the charity's Hub of Hope platform.

The initiative reflects a growing recognition of the important role infrastructure operators can play in suicide prevention and early intervention.

Providing help when it matters most

National Highways says its traffic officers and regional operations teams regularly respond to welfare concerns and incidents involving vulnerable people across England's motorways and major A roads.

The organisation estimates that around 50 suspected suicides occur on the strategic road network every year, accounting for approximately one in five fatalities recorded on the network.

By making access to support more immediate, the new partnership aims to encourage people experiencing mental health difficulties to seek help before reaching a point of crisis.

The QR codes will direct users to Hub of Hope, the UK's largest mental health support directory, which brings together more than 14,000 local and national services offering advice, counselling and specialist support.

A collaborative approach to prevention

National Highways' Suicide Prevention Lead, Nicola Tweedie, said the organisation recognises that preventing suicide requires collaboration across multiple organisations.

"This partnership is an important step forward for National Highways as we continue our work to reduce and prevent harm across our network."

She said the organisation wanted to ensure people experiencing mental health difficulties could find support as quickly as possible.

"We know mental health is complex and not something we can tackle on our own. We don't want anyone to come to harm on our roads, which is why working with Chasing the Stigma is so important. It allows us to bring together the right expertise to better support people who may be struggling."

Tweedie added that making support more accessible could make a significant difference for people in distress.

"Access to help at the right moment can make all the difference. By making it easier for people to find support quickly, we hope to help people get the help they need sooner and, most importantly, before things reach crisis point."

Expanding access to mental health support

Chasing the Stigma, which developed the Hub of Hope platform, believes placing information directly on the strategic road network could help remove barriers that often prevent people from seeking support.

Chief Executive and founder Jake Mills said the partnership represented an important opportunity to make mental health services more visible and accessible.

"We're incredibly proud to be partnering with National Highways. By working together to provide signposting to the Hub of Hope through signage across the road network, we're making it easier for people to find help, wherever they are."

He added that both organisations shared a common objective of encouraging people to seek support earlier.

"Together, we want everyone to know that support is available, and that nobody has to face their mental health challenges alone."

Informing future national initiatives

The pilot will initially operate across sections of the strategic road network in Sussex and Hampshire, with National Highways evaluating its effectiveness over the next 12 months.

The findings will help determine whether similar initiatives could be rolled out more widely across England's motorway and major A-road network.

The project also reflects a broader shift within the highways sector towards recognising that road safety extends beyond engineering and enforcement, encompassing the wellbeing of everyone who uses the network.

If successful, the partnership could provide a model for how transport infrastructure can play a wider role in supporting public health while helping reduce the number of people reaching crisis point on the UK's roads.