On Thursday 5 March, the ninth phase of Small Talk Saves Lives launched with an event in London Waterloo. Small Talk Saves Lives which is run by Samaritans in partnership with Network Rail and British Transport Police aims to empower people to start a conversation with someone they think might be in distress, and potentially save their life.

The event ‘Ticket To Talk’ was a stunning display of 2,284 tickets to represent the number of life-saving interventions done on the rail network in 2024-25. Each ticket featured a small talk phrase, with three larger tickets showing the phrase used by our three hero storytellers when they interacted with someone in distress.

Why should you make small talk? A new survey, commissioned by Samaritans, found that two thirds of people surveyed said they would be more inclined to make small talk with a stranger if they knew it made a positive impact.

The data* shows that 52% of people in the UK think small talk is a thing of the past despite more than half of people saying they would appreciate the kind words of a stranger if they were visibly upset. The survey also found that over three quarters (78%) of respondents admitted to having avoided small talk in the past.

A little small talk and a simple question like ‘Hey, are you alright?’ can be all it takes to interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts.

It’s normal to feel unsure about starting a conversation. You might worry about saying the wrong thing, but it’s better to say something than to say nothing at all. Even if the person doesn’t respond right away, showing you care can make a lasting impact.

*Mortar Research conducted the research via an online omnibus poll of 2,008 UK based respondents in January 2026. 

Photo credit: Sam Lane Photography/Samaritans