Welcome to the Mixed Emotions Podcast with Mihir Oka
Episode: Suicides, Prevention, How Do You Become A Better Listener?
In this episode of the Mixed Emotions Podcast, Mihir Oka hosts Sachin Chitambaran, founder of Connect Hub and lead trainer at Samaritans Mumbai (Unkahee Foundation), a suicide prevention helpline.
Sachin discusses his lifelong career in mental health, emphasizing the importance of listening, breaking down biases, and understanding self-harm as more than just attention-seeking behavior.
He shares insights from his global experience, the training process for volunteers, the challenges during COVID-19, and common myths associated with mental health.
The podcast underscores the need for empathy, proper training, and support systems in addressing mental health issues.
Sachin gets into the challenging topics of suicide prevention, nuances of running prevention helplines and the art of becoming a better listener.
Time Stamps
02:11 Intro
06:36 Let them Vent!
06:44 Offer a Listening Ear
10:29 Who is a Good Listener?
11:41 Children
13:04 Self Awareness
14:48 Self Esteem
17:19 Training to prevent mental distress
18:35 Listening as a skill
21:43 How to give feedback?
22:40 How many calls do you get?
25:19 Why is it anonymous?
28:12 What allows sharing!?
30:29 Selection
32:02 Inappropriate Calls
33:34 Destress after calls
36:33 Samaritans reach
38:10 What happened in Covid
41:22 Can’t hang up
44:25 Listen without Judgement
47:05 We are not logical beings
49:55 Illusion of Control
52:27 Different forms of Self harm
53:48 Myths
57:12 Labels of attention seeking
58:54 How do you unlearn?
01:00:25 My problem is suicide
01:01:35 There is no moral high ground!
01:02:53 We have made listening complicated
01:06:16 There is no privilege in doing this.
01:08:16 Not about you!
01:11:41 Self aware
01:12:53 Relationship building
Key Points Discussed
Understanding the complexities surrounding suicide and suicidal thoughts and helplines, The importance of active listening in providing emotional support. Techniques to improve your listening skills Resources for suicide prevention and mental health support. The simple act of truly listening can be lifesaving.
Listener Advisory:
Suicide Prevention Helplines
If you’re struggling, please reach out for help. You’re not alone.