Mental health problems are one of the main causes of overall disease burden worldwide, and one in six people in the past week experienced a common mental health problem. Even still, mental health issues are a huge taboo. Not speaking about your mental health concerns can make the problems worse, and that’s why Time to Talk exists. It’s Time to Talk Day on February 3, but the aim is to keep the conversations going even when there’s not a designated reason to chat about mental health. Express.co.uk reveals the four ways to get involved with the mission to beat stigma against mental health and get us all talking on Time to Talk Day.
Time to Talk Day doesn’t mean you have to tell everyone about your problems if you don’t want to.
The premise of the day is to be open to the idea of talking about mental health and having conversations that could help yourself and others.
Friends, families, communities and workplaces, supported by Mind, Rethink Mental Illness and Co-op are encouraged to think more carefully about how they interact with others about the topic of mental health.
There are plenty of ways to get involved, from just having a cuppa with a friend to running a whole event.
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The four ways to get involved
Just talk
You don’t need to do anything fancy, just opening up to a friend or lending an ear is enough.
It can be difficult to know what to say when someone opens up to you, but it’s simpler than you’d think.
The official Time to Talk advice reads: “Asking questions can give the person space to express how they’re feeling and what they’re going through, and it will help you to understand their experience better.
“Try to ask questions that are open and not leading or judgmental, like ‘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. So, if you do talk in person, you might want to chat while you are doing something else.
“You could start a conversation when you’re walking, cooking or stuck in traffic. However, don’t let the search for the perfect place put you off!”
You don’t have to fix someone else’s problems either. Unless they’ve asked you for advice, it’s okay just to listen.
Community
If you have access to a public space like a community centre or an office reception, you can host a drop-in tea and talk event.
Download a poster from the Time to Talk site and just be there to host members of the community who want a chat.
Alternatively, you could arrange a walk with people in your community and give out conversation cards to break the ice and get a conversation going about mental health.
If this is too intimidating for you, the team recommends getting creative and doing things like writing and sharing poems with your community about mental health, making cakes for a neighbour and having a chat, or giving out fortune cookies with mental health facts inside.
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Social media
Don’t underestimate the power of social media!
If you’ve left it too late to organise something in person, a post on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or elsewhere will do the trick.
No clue what to write? Time To Talk has given the following prompts:
TimeToTalk Day is on 3 Feb! How will you have your conversation about mental health?
This #TimeToTalk Day I’m talking about mental health because [insert reason that you’re getting involved].
However you do it, start your conversation about mental health this #TimetoTalk Day
Half of every conversation is listening: let someone know they’re being heard this #TimetoTalk Day.
It’s Time to Talk Day on Thursday 3 February 2022: a chance for all of us to be more open about mental health – to talk, to listen, to change lives. #TimetoTalk
A sticky note on someone’s desk, an evening video call, or side-by-side over a sandwich: however you do it, start your conversation this #TimetoTalk Day.
Talking about mental health doesn’t need to be awkward. This #TimetoTalk Day I will be [share your activity plans]
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