People in Oxfordshire encouraged to speak up about mental health
New figures from Samaritans suggest we're reluctant to ask others how they are as we're unsure how to go about it.
People in Oxfordshire are being encouraged to open a conversation surrounding mental health.
It's as it's revealed a fear of small talk's stopping many of us from asking others how they're doing.
New figures from Samaritans have found that while over half of us would appreciate someone checking on them, 64% of us would avoid it as we don't have any go-to phrases for small talk.
"You can't really say the wrong thing"
It comes as the charity launches it's "Small Talk Saves Lives Campaign", encouraging more of us to start a conversation if someone doesn't seem okay.
Dave Brown is a spokesperson for Samaritans, covering Oxfordshire and the South East, he said: “We're really trying to empower members of the public to approach somebody who they might be a little bit concerned about, and open up a conversation with them.
“We know that people who are struggling can really appreciate somebody just approaching them and check in with how they're doing.”
He added: “You can't really say the wrong thing if you're approaching somebody from a place of care and compassion. Most people will appreciate somebody reaching out to them, just checking in with them and see how they're doing.”
As Samaritans' campaign continues, a series of portraits showing people who "used the power of words to save a life" will also be embarking on a regional tour around train stations, in hopes to build on the rail industry's suicide prevention programme.
Olivia Cayley, Head of the Rail Programme at Samaritans, said: "We know that people can worry about saying the wrong thing or feel like it's not their place to step in, but it's always better to say something than to say nothing at all.
“A little small talk and a simple question like ‘Hey, are you alright?’ can be all it takes to interrupt someone’s negative thoughts.”
If you are looking for support or help, you can contact Samaritans here