Meaningful conversations with strangers can help mental health

As the weather gets colder and the days grow shorter, it’s easy to find yourself feeling isolated. That’s why the GenWell Project, an organization addressing issues of social isolation, is helping you overcome loneliness by encouraging meaningful conversations with strangers.

“What we’re beginning to learn from the latest social science research is that actually these casual relationships, even interactions with people you don’t know, are also beneficial for you,” said Kiffer Card, an assistant professor at Simon Fraser University.

“You feel safer in your community. They build social cohesion. But there also seems to be some human factor of just face-to-face social connection, fulfilling some innate need that we have to be connected to other people.”

The group launched the initiative called, Talk To A Stranger Week, which kicked off on Monday. The idea is simple, just strike up a conversation with a stranger.

“All these interactions that we can have with a stranger, the Uber driver, the person at the depanneur, somebody that’s standing in line in the grocery store, these little interactions of saying hello, giving a smile, making a nice comment, being optimistic,” said Betty Esperanza, an ambassador at the GenWell Project.

Speaking to some Montrealers, CityNews found that many people don’t talk to strangers. When asked, if they talked to strangers, those who were willing to talk and provide an answer responded with “not very often” or “almost never.”

As to why, one Montrealer responded, “I don’t know. It’s maybe because you put your earplug, you don’t hear anything, you don’t, you know, you don’t, nobody stops you, you look busy, and you end up not talking to anybody.”

When asked if they knew talking to strangers is good for mental health, they responded, “I absolutely would agree, because when I’m on vacation and I don’t have those in my ear, I speak to everybody. Because I’m interested.”

And while talking to strangers might not always prompt a response, Esperanza says, there’s always another chance.

“Don’t give up. It’s okay if somebody doesn’t respond. They might the second time around,” said Esperanza. “A stranger today is a friend tomorrow.”