Part of a redundant railway carriage at Hamilton Central Station in Scotland has been transformed into a place for promoting positive mental health.

The carriage is a large-scale artwork titled ‘Hope in Hamilton’ on the station’s platform 1. It includes visual messages from members of the community to provide voices from local people and to raise awareness and understanding of mental health.

‘Hope in Hamilton’ has been created by people who are being supported with their mental wellbeing, and was officially unveiled ahead of this week’s International Men’s Health Week from 10th to 16th June.

The artwork is the result of a project by Rail 74 CRP (Community Rail Partnership) and aims to highlight male health issues and encourage men of all ages to talk about them.

Rail 74 CRP is a charity that aims to deliver benefits along the Rutherglen to Hamilton Central Line.

Avanti West Coast’s Station Community Fund supported the project, with additional funding from CrossCountry and ScotRail.

The result is a series of uplifting messages displayed on a ticker display on the platform.

Contributions to the project came from men in South Lanarkshire who are being supported with their mental wellbeing. They gave them a creative outlet where they could interact with others with shared experiences.

Rail manufacturer Alstom donated the carriage, and award-winning artist, Rob Mulholland, from Arcadia Sculpture Centre in Loch Lomond developed the final design.

Suggestions for the design had the support of Samaritans and from workshops for members of the community, including patients from NHS Beckford Lodge, Lanarkshire Action for Mental Health, and Police Scotland Youth volunteers.

Samaritans volunteers are always ready to listen, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls can be made free of charge to 116 123 or by email to [email protected].

ScotRail has recently trained 100 staff to become Mental Health First Aiders, and earlier this year took part in Samaritans’ “Brew Monday” campaign to talk mental health.

We want to support causes that matter most to communities along our route, so we’re proud to have played a part in raising awareness and understanding of mental health in South Lanarkshire through this amazing project.

Through our work with Samaritans, we know it’s the small things that can make a huge difference to our wellbeing and this project has given people the chance to engage in art therapy and connect with others who have a shared experience – championing positive mental health. We want everyone to feel the sense of hope the art installation symbolises, so those who are struggling can talk or seek help.

Joanna Buckley, Community Manager at Avanti West Coast