Brave the big talk
This Time to Talk Day, we’re encouraging you to brave the big talk – and have conversations about mental health experiences that might still feel a bit unspoken.
We’ve made great progress in destigmatising mental health problems and improving attitudes. But we need to keep going. There are still times when what we are living through can feel really big and difficult to talk about.
If you’ve reached out for support for your mental health, and been put on a waiting list, we know how difficult life can be whilst you wait.
You can read our support for coping while you’re waiting for therapy
There’s many different experiences of hearing voices – sometimes they are frightening or intrusive. But voices can also be comforting, helpful, or annoying! There’s a lot of stigma around voice-hearing.
Read our guide for friends and family on how to be helpful to someone who hears voices.
The days and weeks after a suicide attempt can be overwhelming, and it can be hard to know what to say or do next.
Mind has tips to help you cope and guidance on how to support someone who has attempted suicide.
What is Time to Talk Day?
Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. It’s a day for all of us to come together to talk, listen and change lives.
Why is talking 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.
The power of being able to talk about your own experiences and turn them into something positive is huge.
Share our campaign on social media
If you share one of these graphics on your social feed, you might encourage others to open up about their own mental health experiences - and that’s exactly what Time to Talk Day is all about.
If you ever feel unsure about how to respond, or if someone needs more support than you can offer, you can direct them back to this page. We’ve got lots of guidance and resources for anyone who’s struggling. Here's some suggested wording to include in your post.
Caption wording:
Brave the big talk this #TimeToTalkDay.
Opening up about our mental health can be the first step towards getting help.
If you or someone you care about needs support, visit mind.org.uk/TimeToTalkDay
Download the graphics:
Text a friend to ask how they're doing.
Go for a walk and talk with a neighbour.
Invite a colleague for a cup of tea and a chat.
Deliver a school assembly on mental health.
Host a lunch and learn session in your workplace.
Share our campaign graphic on social media.
You’re not only helping yourself and the people around you in that initial conversation but you’re also helping to break down barriers so other people feel more comfortable talking about their mental health.
Resources for schools, workplaces and sports clubs
We want to make it as easy as possible for everyone to start conversations about mental health. To help you get going, we’ve created handy information packs full of simple ideas to get your school, workplace or sports club talking.
Talking tips
While there’s no right or wrong way to talk about mental health, our talking tips can help you have those all-important conversations.
And if you’re looking for even more guidance on how to support others, take a look at Mind’s Conversations in the Community training.
Tips for supporting someone else
Asking questions can give the person space to share how they’re feeling and what they’re going through. Try to ask questions that are open and non-judgmental, like ‘what does that feel like?’
Small verbal comments like ‘I see’ or ‘what happened next?’ will let them know you are paying attention to them and actively listening.
Try to resist the urge to offer quick fixes to what someone is going through. Just talking can be really powerful, so unless they’ve asked for advice directly, it might be best just to listen.
Mental health problems are more common than people think. They can affect anyone at any time. Comments like ‘Pull yourself together’ or ‘You’re just having a bad day’ are not helpful.
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. It’s important to let them set the pace for seeking support themselves.
Tips for sharing your own feelings
This could be a face-to-face conversation, or you might find it easier to talk on the phone, video-call or even write down how you feel.
Sometimes it’s easier to talk side-by-side, rather than face-to-face. There may not be a ‘good time’ and you might want to chat while you are doing something else, like walking or cooking.
You could do this in your head or make some notes. Phrases like “I’ve not been feeling like myself lately” might provide a starting point.
It can sometimes feel uncomfortable sharing something so personal, but explaining how your feelings are affecting your life may help others to understand.
This might just be listening and offering emotional support or there may be practical help you need.
For more guidance, see our pages on helping someone else seek help and opening up about your mental health.
