Anyone who has ever travelled on UK public transport will recognise the unspoken rule that you don’t make eye contact with the people around you. But just by striking up a simple conversation, you could be saving a life.
That is the crux of a new campaign from Samaritans, devised by 23Red in partnership with Network Rail, British Transport Police and the wider rail industry.
“Small Talk Saves Lives” is supported by Samaritans research which reveals over two-thirds of UK adults (67%) would appreciate someone checking on them, by offering words of support, if they were struggling to cope.
The campaign encourages people to start a simple conversation if they think someone doesn’t look OK on the railway network and other public settings – as more than two in five (44%) say they find themselves struggling to cope.
Nearly half of respondents (40%) admit to avoiding someone who didn’t look OK because they were afraid of making small talk with them.
From this group, 30% said they weren’t sure what to say, while over a third (35%) said they were worried their help would not be welcomed.
A new campaign film has been released to remind the public that when it comes to saving a life you already have a life-saving kit available to you – your words.
To mark the launch of Small Talk Saves Lives, London Bridge station is hosting a special exhibition display. ‘The Power of Words’, created by the artist Chris Bishop, celebrates people who have saved lives by using small talk.
Gary Campbell is one person profiled in the exhibition and knows all about the power of words, after receiving suicide prevention training during his time working in the rail industry.
He said: “Once, I stopped a man who I could see was upset. He opened up about his struggles and we talked about his love of fishing. I connected him with a support group and he later told me I had saved his life.
“My advice is simple, trust your instincts. That one person checking in can go a long way.”
With nearly two in three people (64% of the UK) saying they don’t currently have any go-to phrases to start small talk, Samaritans is reminding people that saying even a few words will mean a lot to those who are struggling to cope.
Samaritans head of the rail programme Olivia Cayley 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.”
Small Talk Saves Lives builds on the wider rail industry’s suicide prevention programme, which has seen Samaritans, in partnership with Network Rail, train over 31,000 rail staff and British Transport Police in suicide prevention, enabling them to identify and support people in need of help.
23red creative director Tristan Cavanagh commented: “Everyone, through the power of their words, has a lifesaving kit. It’s something anyone can do, so we hope that by encouraging everyone to realise they already have the tools to help someone in need, and how easy it is, we can increase their confidence to take that simple step.”
So, what is the consensus around the Decision Marketing office?
Well, this is definitely a tough brief – Brits are notoriously reluctant to intervene in any situation, let alone when someone looks like they are struggling to cope. Most people simply don’t want to get involved, but get involved we must and even if this activity spurs just a handful of people into action it will be worth its weight in gold.
After all, how hard can it be to ask someone if they are OK?
Decision Marketing Adometer: A “lifesaving” 9 out of 10
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