South Norfolk counsellor says small talk with a strangers can save lives
Samaritans have found that nearly half of us actively avoid chatting to somebody we don't know, due to fear making of 'small talk'
A counsellor from South Norfolk is telling us that starting up a conversation with a stranger can save somebody's life.
It's after research from the charity Samaritans found that nearly half of us actively avoid chatting to somebody we don't know, due to fear making of 'small talk'.
The data also shows more than a fifth (22%) of Brits are too worried about saying the wrong thing while a third (34%) claim they don’t know what to say to initiate a conversation.
"Subtle worries around being judged"
Ruth Noble works in Diss:
"Even before the pandemic we hear about people getting hurt and attacked by strangers, which means we are going to be afraid to approach people.
"Then there's the more subtle worries around being judged after saying the wrong thing or it being awkward, more generally.
"Sometimes we have days when we don't really feel like reaching out and then we can come across to others as not wanting to have small talk.
"We don't have a lot of chance to practice, with all of those things against us. So we get as far as 'that feels awkward', but if we feel 'that was awkward but there's always another time' that would be a better way of looking at it.
"I see you and value your presence"
"It's not really about how we make them feel, that's almost a side-effect of it. It's a human reaching out to another human, and saying 'I see you and value your presence'. If we say nice things to each other, of course we boost up people's sense of themselves.
"For somebody who is considering ending their life, they are obviously feeling like nobody can see me, nobody understands me or cares about me. But for a complete stranger, in somewhere like a crowded train station, to see somebody and speak to them, that's really powerful."
"Could save a life”
Samaritans launched their "Small Talk Saves Lives campaign" in 2017, with the aim to inform people that a little small talk like ‘do you know where I can grab a cuppa?’ can be all it takes to interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts.
The majority (80%) of Brits use small talk in their personal lives and over half (52%) often or always use it in their professional lives too, according to the charity's research.
Samaritans CEO Julie Bentley says:
"Every day, there are people across Great Britain who are in distress and need support. Suicide is preventable and suicidal thoughts are often temporary and can be interrupted.
“Our Small Talk Saves Lives campaign empowers people to trust their instincts and have the confidence to act in a way that could save a life.”
If you're struggling or know somebody who is:
Samaritans:
Call 116 123
Text SHOUT to 85258
SANEline:
Call 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10pm every day)
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK:
Call on 0800 689 5652 (6pm to midnight every day).
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM):
Call on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day)
Shout.
Text on 85258.