Publish date: 1 February 2024
Thursday 1 February is Time to Talk Day and we’re asking you to join in.
The more we talk openly about our mental health, the less we will feel isolated, ashamed and stigmatised by our mental health experiences. Reducing stigma will help more people to take a more positive approach to mental wellbeing.
This is a national campaign to get more people talking about mental health than ever before.
'Time to Talk Day’ is ran by the leading mental health charities, Mind and Rethink Mental Illness as part of their ongoing anti-stigma campaign. The aim is to get as many people and organisations as possible to commit to having a conversation about mental health on that day to show that mental health problems are common and having these conversations needn’t be as hard as people sometimes fear. Talking about mental health isn't easy. But a conversation has the power to change lives.
Top tips for talking:
- There's no right or wrong way to talk about mental health. But these tips can help make sure you’re approaching the conversation in a helpful way.
- Asking questions can give the person space to express how they’re feeling and what they’re going through. It can help you to understand their experience better. Try to ask questions that are open and not leading or judgmental. For example, “how does that affect you?” or “what does it feel like?”
- Sometimes it’s easier to talk side by side rather than face to face. If you do talk in person, you might want to chat while doing something else. You could start a conversation when you’re walking, cooking or stuck in traffic. But don’t let the search for the perfect place put you off!
- When someone has a mental health problem, they’re still the same person as they were before. When a friend or loved one opens up about mental health, they don’t want you to treat them any differently. If you want to support them, keep it simple. Do the things you’d normally do.
