Time to Talk Day is an initiative led by Time to Change, to encourage people to have a conversation about mental health – no matter how big or small.
This year’s event might look a little different, but with many of us struggling to maintain our mental wellbeing during the pandemic, open conversations about mental health are more important than ever.
This year the focus is on the power of small – a quick text to a friend, a virtual coffee morning with colleagues, or a socially distanced walk – all have the power to make a big difference.
You don’t have to be an expert to have a conversation about mental health and sometimes just being a listening ear is enough, but we’ve put together some of our top tips and ideas to get you started or visit the Time to Change website for some helpful resources:
Set aside some time
Why not ask your work or school colleagues to take a ten-minute tea break during the day, and make mental health your topic of conversation? Many of us have felt particularly isolated during lockdown and have been having fewer direct conversations with those around us. Just a short conversation can help someone feel more connected and less alone during this time
Text someone you haven’t in a while
Perhaps you could text someone you haven’t checked in with for a while. You might have lost touch with a colleague you typically only see at work in the kitchen, why not drop them a line and ask how they’re doing?
Provide a listening ear
If you don’t feel comfortable talking about your own mental health, or how you’re feeling, just being there to listen to someone else and ask them how they’re doing is enough. Think of it as doing your good deed for the day and feel good about helping someone else!
We need your help to have more conversations about mental health this Time to Talk day – together we can help end the stigma around mental health