30/07/2025
“The Big Listen”
Samaritans encourage people in crisis to get in touch because often just having a conversation and feeling heard and listened to can alleviate some distress, even if nothing is resolved. Better still, talking about what’s bothering you can give you a new perspective on your situation or help you to see things differently.
Talking to the Samaritans or someone you know and trust can be the first step in the right direction to start taking action and feeling better.
So how common are mental health difficulties?
One in four will experience a mental health difficulty each year in England. More than 1 in 20 people will make a su***de attempt at one point in their lives. And many more will contemplate su***de.
If in crisis, knowing that organisations like Samaritans are waiting for your call can prevent people from acting on suicidal plans and pick up the phone to seek support instead.
With these figures in mind, the chances are that you or someone you know has been affected by su***de either directly or indirectly. Therefore, it has never been more important to know how to help yourself and how to help others.
Have you been feeling distressed recently?
Maybe you have been in crisis before or wondered if you should talk to someone and how you can take the next step. Keeping the theme of “The Big Listen” in mind, seeking support for your mental health in the form of talking therapy could help.
Psychological therapies have a robust evidence base to suggest clinical effectiveness; this means most people who receive evidence-based treatments report reduction in their symptoms and increased ability to function in their lives. There are many kinds of talking therapies but only those with a strong evidence base such as cognitive behavioural therapy are available through your GP.Taking the first step can be daunting, so if you’re unsure, view it as a nothing-to-lose approach.
Are you feeling OK, but you’re worried about someone else?
Census-wide carried out a recent study in early 2023 which revealed that only 50% of UK adults said they would feel confident approaching someone they didn’t know if they had concerns about them in public, despite there being no evidence to suggest that asking someone if they are OK will make them feel worse.
Maybe you’ve noticed explicit or more subtle changes in a friend or family member recently. We’re all used to asking, “How are you?”, but asking, “How has your mood been recently?” can encourage the person to talk about what’s bothering them.
So how can I take the next steps?
Whether this article has been relevant for you or for someone on your mind, you’ll find the contacts of useful services below.
Start by talking to a trusted friend, family member or health professional. Having the numbers to hand could be a life saver.
Contact Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123 – if you prefer to text, you can start a conversation by texting SHOUT to 85258.
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