The best way to help is often just to listen

Sophie Andrews believes that the simple act of listening can have a life-changing effect. As a teenager, Sophie relied on a helpline during a time of personal crisis, and she credits the service with saving her life. The empathetic and confidential support from the stranger on the other end of the phone had a profound impact on her, and it inspired her to set up her own helpline to address the issue of loneliness and its effect on health and wellbeing.
Tune in to Sophie’s 2017 TEDMED Talk to learn more about her work with The Silver Line, a 24-hour phone line that provides social connectivity for isolated senior citizens in the UK.