New campaign urging we all improve our listening skills

Some of Ealing’s most iconic buildings will be turned a special shade of green by Ealing Samaritans.

The temporary re-colourings, in ‘shush’ green, are to promote Samaritans’ summer campaign to encourage people from all over the UK to take a few minutes to improve their listening skills by following simple listening tips called SHUSH!

These are:

• 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

The first building to benefit from the shush green treatment will be Ealing Samaritans’ own HQ at 26 Junction Road, South Ealing. More will be seen in the next few days. 

And next Monday (24 July) a group of Ealing Samaritans volunteers will be at Ealing Broadway Station to encourage the Borough’s commuters to take a few minutes to improve their listening skills by following the SHUSH! tips.

Samaritans believes 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.

Ealing Samaritans Director Ann McLaughlin said:  “Suicide concerns us all and we can all encourage people to be better listeners. We can also encourage people who are feeling distressed to reach out for help. Many people like to give advice, express opinions and love the sound of their own voices. But this year we’re asking YOU to SHUSH and just listen.

“Sixty years of Samaritans’ expertise has taught us that just listening is the greatest gift to someone in distress and this gift can save lives."

She added:  “Samaritans aim is to reduce the high numbers of suicides in the UK and The Republic of Ireland. We want to encourage people who are struggling to ask for help early rather than waiting until they reach a crisis.”

18th July 2017