News

A mental health initiative to promote human contact

636

By Sharyn Sadauskas, Project Coordinator, Vancouver Island Division

The "I'd Love to Talk" Project is an idea that grew out of thoughts I've had about loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. I'd come to realize that while the pandemic increased isolation, loneliness existed before COVID-19 and would continue to exist even after we returned to "normal".

I wanted to make a difference by inviting conversation and connection and inspiring others to do the same. Out of this hope came the idea for a visual cue that would signal a person's openness to being approached. An "I'd Love to Talk" card (see photo) is a simple way to do that.

You can set out an "I'd Love to Talk" card in a coffee shop, in the office lunch room, on a park table, wherever, to welcome others to stop for a moment to chat. Your invitation may brighten someone's day. Or your own!

When EHS Coordinator Jordan Abbey began his recent cross country office visits with our Vancouver Island branch, he and I had a chance to talk about the project. Interested in spreading the idea, he took several cards with him. He has since distributed some to our offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa.

The plan to expand the “I’d Love to Talk” project includes social media campaigns and a growing team of ambassadors. If you don't have an "I'd Love to Talk" card but would like one, please email me at ssadauskas@vikingfire.ca.  On social media, please share your connection stories with #idlovetotalk or #enviedeparler.”