Time to Talk Day

Why talking is important

Talking openly and honestly can be the first step towards better mental health for everyone. It can even save lives. Talking can reduce stigma and help people feel comfortable enough to seek help when they need it.

Start a conversation today

Sometimes just taking the time to check-in on a relative, friend or neighbour might be just the thing that somebody who might be struggling with their mental health needs.

It could be as simple as sending a text to a friend to see how they're doing, going for a walk and talk with a neighbour or inviting a relative for a coffee. Something small like that might be all that's needed to help breakdown the barriers so people can feel comfortable talking about their mental health. 

Talking tips

There's no right or wrong way to talk about mental health, there's a few tips that might help when you're having a conversation:

• Ask questions and listen - giving somebody the space to share how they're feeling and what they're going through and asking questions that are open and non-judgemental, like 'what does that feel like' can really help.
• Don't try and fix it - just talking can be really powerful, without feeling that you need to try and offer quick fixes for what somebody is going through. Unless you're asked for advice directly, just listening could be what's needed.
• Challenge myths - mental health problems are more common than people might think. They can affect anyone at anytime. Comments like 'pull yourself together' or 'you're just having a bad day' aren't helpful.
• Be patient - some people might not be ready to talk about what they're going through - and that's ok. The fact that you've tried, and shown you're there, might make it easier for them to open up another time.

And if you want to talk about how you're feelings, but not sure how to do that, there's a few things that could help:

• Find a way that feels right for you - it might be a face-to-face conversation or you might find it easier to talk on the phone or even to write down how you're feeling
• Find a suitable time and place - sometimes it might be easier to talk side-by-side when you're on a walk rather than face-to-face. You might want to talk when you're doing something else like cooking or walking - so it doesn't feel too pressured
• Practice what you want to say - you could do this in your head, or make some notes. Phrases like 'I've not been feeling myself lately' might give you a starting point
• Be honest and open - it can sometimes feel uncomfortable sharing something so personal, but explaining how your feelings are affecting your life may help others to understand
• Suggest things they could do to help - this might just be listening to you or providing emotional support. Or it might be something more practical   

Where to find support

If you need to talk right now, there's lots of helplines staffed by trained people who are ready to listen. They won't judge you and could help you to make sense of what you're feeling.

Mind's website has a list of different organisations and options you could try, as well as lots of information, support and guidance about mental health.