Talking about struggles sounds simple, until you’re the one who has to open up. For young people, fear of judgement, uncertainty about counselling, or simply not knowing where to begin can make that first conversation difficult. A new initiative, Chat Circles, is giving young people aged 15 to 28 a space to talk to trained volunteer listeners for an hour, without assessment, judgement or advice on how to fix their problems. So, can having someone simply listen make a meaningful difference? And in an age of constant messaging, have we become less comfortable with the conversations that really matter. On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Keng Hwee Yap, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Empact, to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talking about struggles sounds simple, until you&rsquo;re the one who has to open up. For young people, fear of judgement, uncertainty about counselling, or simply not knowing where to begin can make that first conversation difficult. A new initiative, Chat Circles, is giving young people aged 15 to 28 a space to talk to trained volunteer listeners for an hour, without assessment, judgement or advice on how to fix their problems. So, can having someone simply listen make a meaningful difference? And in an age of constant messaging, have we become less comfortable with the conversations that really matter. On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Keng Hwee Yap, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Empact, to find out.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

The Agenda: Could just talking help young people feel less alone?