“In terms of loneliness, it’s been a relief to know that there are people there who I can talk to”
The atmosphere in FriendChat is relaxed, participants are considerate of each other and it is easy to join in.
“I originally gave the chat a try on a friend’s recommendation. The safe atmosphere also encouraged me to write in the chat, but there was absolutely no pressure to do so. It was completely okay to just follow other people’s conversations at first and then join in myself once I felt confident enough,” says ‘Hannu’, a participant in the Finnish Red Cross’s FriendChat. He is featured in this article under a pseudonym.
“In FriendChat, we chat about everything under the sun”
Hannu says that the atmosphere in FriendChat is usually pretty easygoing and relaxed, participants are considerate of each other and it is easy to join in.
He says that the topics of discussion have been quite varied. They have ranged from more serious to lighter topics, depending on the participants. In FriendChat, people have been chatting about things such as hobbies, the weather, relationships, music, films and, really, just about everything under the sun.
“In the groups, we’ve been able to share both our joys and our sorrows, and I’ve felt that I’ve been listened to and taken seriously,” Hannu says.
FriendChat gives you someone to talk to during lonely moments. For Hannu, taking part in the chat has brought relief:
“Although I haven’t yet managed to form very deep friendships through the chat, probably because I’ve been nervous, it’s been a relief in terms of loneliness to know that there are people there who I can talk to, rather than just having to sit at home on my own with no one to chat with,” he says.
Hannu has a message for those considering trying out FriendChat:
“My own experiences of the chat have been positive, so I think it’s been worth it to try it out and participate in the conversation.”
Finnish Red Cross FriendChat
The Finnish Red Cross FriendChat offers a range of chat rooms and video meetings for young people, older adults and on various topics.
The service is available in Finnish, Swedish and English.
The chats are anonymous and safe group discussions where you can talk about the joys and sorrows of everyday life. Learn more about the different chat rooms, video meetings and timetables.
The main image for the article is an illustration.
