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In our final of our 5-part focus on Healthy Coping Mechanisms, David Stokes, Network Delivery Manager for Network Rail’s control centre, shares how teams cope in a high-pressure operational environment where they never know what will happen next.

A major theme is how much attitudes have shifted around mental health and coping. David reflects that people are now more comfortable saying when they are not okay, rather than relying on the old “stiff upper lip” approach. He explains that understanding the physical mechanics of stress can remove shame: it helps people realise their reactions are not weakness or poor performance, but the body responding under pressure.

David describes the control centre as being like a boxing ring: you know you may get punched, but you do not know when, how hard, or how often. Preparation, training and muscle memory are therefore vital, especially in the first few minutes of a serious incident. But he also stresses that recovery matters just as much as readiness.

His own coping mechanisms include preparing well before a shift, prioritising sleep, exercising, eating well, switching off properly, connecting with others, and spending time outside. He is clear that people cannot keep “revving” indefinitely; they need time to reset, or they return to work already depleted.

As a leader, David explains that when someone has been through a difficult incident, he takes them away from the intense control room environment, gives them time with no sense of clock-watching, and often walks with them outside. Movement, space and reassurance help people talk more freely and reduce their stress levels.

He is passionate about this work because he has seen people struggle when their baseline stress stays too high, affecting both work and home life. His belief is simple and strong: 'it is okay not to be okay, but it is not okay to battle on alone'.

For managers, David's message is to step in early, not brush difficult situations under the carpet, and give people the most valuable thing they have: time. Some of the most meaningful conversations, he says, start with someone saying, “I’m fine, mate, I’ve got nothing to talk about.”


His final call to action is beautifully simple: have respect - for yourself and for the people you impact. Listen to yourself, and listen to others.