Time to Talk Day 2023

We know that talking about mental health isn’t always easy, but the more conversations we have about mental health, the better life is for everyone.

Time to Talk Day is all about bringing people and communities together to talk about mental health.

Why talking is so important

1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Too many of us are made to feel isolated, worthless and ashamed as a result.

Conversations have the power to change lives. So make space in your day for a conversation about mental health this Time to Talk Day.

Talking tips

Time to talk day is all about being open to the idea of talking. We all have mental health, and by having conversations about it we can help ourselves and others. It’s not about encouraging people to talk about a mental health problem if they don’t want to.

Making space in your day to ask someone how they are doing is a simple way to start a conversation about mental health and show people that you are prepared to talk and listen without judgement.

If someone does open up about their mental health, we know it might not always feel easy to know what to say. But it doesn’t have to be awkward. Being there for someone can make a big difference.

There is no right way to talk about mental health; however, these tips can help make sure you’re approaching it in a helpful way.

Ask questions and listen

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 judgemental, like, ‘how does that affect you?’ or, ‘what does it feel like?’

Think about the time and place

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 or making a cup of tea. But, don’t let the search for the perfect time and place put you off!

Don’t try to fix it

It can be hard to see someone you care about having a difficult time but try to resist the urge to offer quick fixes to what they’re going through. Learning to manage or recover from a mental health problem can be a long journey, and they’ve likely already considered lots of different tools and strategies. Just talking can be really powerful, so unless they’ve asked for advice directly, it might be best just to listen.

Treat them the same

When someone has a mental health problem, they’re still the same person as they were before. And that means when a friend or colleague opens up about mental health, they don’t want to be treated any differently. If you want to support them, keep it simple. Do the things you’d normally do.

Be patient

No matter how hard you try, some people might not be ready to talk about what they’re going through. That’s ok – the fact that you’ve tried to talk to them about it may make it easier for them to open up another time.

Supporting and valuing each other’s health and wellbeing has a key role to play in creating a safe and inclusive place to work. You can find more information, guidance and additional resources to help you manage your own health and wellbeing and to help support colleagues and team members, on the Council intranet and on the Council website.