Skip navigation

Gloucestershire Business News

Gloucester Samaritans want you to shush and listen

A suicide prevention charity harnesses the power of listening in an awareness campaign in Gloucester.

Samaritans annual month-long awareness campaign Talk to Us in July encourages people to take a few minutes to improve their listening skills by following the charity's simple SHUSH! listening tips.

Samaritans volunteers from Gloucester and District branch will be handing out SHUSH listening tips on the platforms of Gloucester and Stroud railway stations during rush hour on the 24th July, "24/7", The Big Listen.

They will be highlighting the support they provide for the community, which centres on good listening skills.

In Gloucester, Samaritans is run entirely by our 120 volunteers, who in addition to listening on the phones, listening face to face in our branch and speaking to people by email and SMS, fund raise to meet the £30,000 cost to keep our branch open each year.

It's the kind donations of the public and supportive organisations that allow us to keep our branch open.

Gloucester Cathedral will be signalling support for the Talk to Us Campaign and the Big Listen on 24 July, by lighting the cathedral tower green between 24 and 28 July, highlighting the campaign and encouraging people to talk and listen.

Canon Chancellor at Gloucester Cathedral Celia Thomson said "The Cathedral is very pleased to be able to draw attention to and support the work of the Samaritans by lighting our tower green.

"The Samaritans provide a wonderful service to those who need a listening ear at a crucial time. "There are a wide variety of reasons why people may want to call the Samaritans and listening to them is way of helping them cope with their problems and hopefully finding a way through in the future.

"Every life is precious to God.

"We can all become better listeners and the Samaritans' website will give your their five handy tips - SHUSH."

Every six seconds, someone in the UK and Ireland contacts Samaritans, and every 90 minutes in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, someone takes their own life.

Samaritans believe that listening is crucial to helping people find their way through their problems, and the charity would like to encourage people to seek help early, rather than when they reach a crisis.

Samaritans Listening Tips or S-H-U-S-H:

Show you care: focus just on the other person, make eye contact, put away your phone.

Have patience: it may take time and several attempts before a person is ready to open up.

Use open questions: that need more than a yes/no answer, & follow up e.g. 'Tell me more'

Say it back: to check you've understood, but don't interrupt or offer a solution.

Have courage: don't be put off by a negative response and, most importantly, don't be afraid to leave silence.

Good listening is hard but Samaritans believes it essential in bringing down the number of suicides.

The National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health lead for British Transport Police Mark Smith said: "As the national police service for the railways, we are committed to reducing suicide and to our partnership with the rail industry and Samaritans.

"We are very pleased to see the reduction in suicides and suspected suicides and the increase in life-saving interventions for the second year in succession".

Ian Stevens, who manages the suicide prevention programme on behalf of the rail industry, said:

"As the operators of the rail network in Britain, we have a responsibility to keep passengers, staff and members of the public safe.

"Alongside physical measures such as new barriers, fencing and lighting at stations, we will continue our work with Samaritans to prevent suicides and break down the stigma associated with mental health issues."

Samaritans is a secular organisation that welcomes the support of the British Transport Police, Network rail and the local GWR stations and Gloucester Cathedral, partnership working has delivered huge benefits both to vulnerable people and staff.

Director of Gloucester and District branch of the Samaritans Joanna Downing said: "Suicide is everybody's business and we can all do our bit to encourage people to be better listeners and reach out for help if they need to.

"We're a culture of people who love to give advice, love to give opinions and love the sound of our own voices.

"But this year we're asking people all over the country to SHUSH! and take time out to listen to others.

"Sixty years of Samaritans' expertise has taught us that just listening is the greatest gift you can give to somebody, and that it can save lives."

"Samaritans' aim is to bring down the high numbers of suicides in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. It wants to encourage people to ask for help early if they are struggling, rather than waiting until they reach a crisis."

Throughout the month of July, Samaritans volunteers up and down the UK and Ireland, who are based in 200 different branches, will be staging events to raise awareness of the services they offer in their local communities.

Find out about #TalkToUs events in area at www.samaritans.org, follow @samaritans and @glossamaritans on Twitter or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/samaritanscharity .

Samaritans' Listening Tips, plus a wealth of information on how to be a good listener, as well as spotting the signs that someone may be struggling, can be found at www.samaritans.org. 

Whatever you're going through, call Samaritans free any time on 116 123 (this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill), email jo@samaritans.org , or visit www.samaritans.org  to find details of your nearest branch

Related Articles

Versarien's revenues halve and losses rise Image

Versarien's revenues halve and losses rise

Forest of Dean-based advanced engineering group Versarien saw its revenues halve last year.

Gloucestershire company launches same-day service Image

Gloucestershire company launches same-day service

Gloucester-based Freemans Event Partners has launched a brand-new around-the-clock foodservice logistics offer.

Gloucester business expands at Elmbridge Court Image

Gloucester business expands at Elmbridge Court

Just three offices are now available for rent at Elmbridge Court, following the latest letting.

Cirencester town centre to deliver improved parking Image

Cirencester town centre to deliver improved parking

Better parking and traffic control improvements for Cirencester residents and businesses.

Copyright 2024 Moose Partnership Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any content is strictly forbidden without prior permission.