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Samaritans to focus on Small Talk Saves Lives at Banbury market
06/03/2024
Trust your instincts and start a conversation if you think someone needs help
Samaritans volunteers will be at Banbury Market tomorrow (Thursday) as part of the national Small Talk Saves Lives campaign. Alongside representatives from Cherwell District Council, Healthwatch Oxfordshire, and Age Friendly Oxfordshire, they want to tell people that having just a small conversation with someone who might be having suicidal thoughts could help save their life.
Figures released today by Samaritans reveal that around half of adults (48%) in the South-East avoid engaging with someone they don’t know to avoid small talk. Over one in four (26%) are worried they would say the wrong thing.
The Small Talk Saves Lives campaign empowers the public to trust their instincts and start a conversation if they think someone needs help. Even a simple comment such as “do you know where I can grab a cuppa?” can be all it takes to interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts and could help set them on the journey to recovery.
The charity says that whilst people might worry that they will say the wrong thing, saying something is better than saying nothing.
Samaritans CEO Julie Bentley said, “Every day, there are people across Great Britain who are in distress and need support. 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.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam