A third of UK prefers to keep silent about mental health rather than risk an awkward conversation
New research released on Time to Talk Day reveals a third of people surveyed in the UK (34%) say they would prefer to not talk about their mental health rather than risk an awkward conversation.
The desire to avoid awkwardness is highest among young people – 45% of 16-24 year olds say not speaking up is better than having an awkward conversation, compared to just 19% of 65-74 year olds.
The silence around mental health is impacting our social lives. Almost four in ten (39%) say they have pushed friends and family away or stopped socialising due to wanting to keep quiet about mental health concerns, with young people the most impacted.
37% of 16-24s say they have struggled at school or work because of not talking about their mental health.
New data released on Time to Talk Day (6 February) reveals the UK’s reluctance to talk about mental health, with young people disproportionately affected by the silence. A Censuswide poll of 5,000 people, conducted as part of the initiative led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness in partnership with Co-op, found that a third (34%) of respondents would rather avoid discussing their mental health than risk an ‘awkward’ conversation.
Time to Talk Day aims to break this cycle by encouraging millions of conversations about mental health in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities nationwide.
The survey shows young people are the most likely to avoid conversations about their mental health, with half (49%) of 16-24-year-olds admitting to pushing people away, compared to just 11% of those over 75. Nearly half (45%) of young people say they wouldn’t want to discuss their mental health, compared to just 19% of 65-74 year olds.
Sadly, bottling things up is driving isolation; 39% said they have pushed friends and family away or that they have stopped socialising as a result of not talking about their mental health. And it’s making life more difficult. A fifth (20%) say not talking is causing them to struggle at school or work, rising to 37% of 16-24s and 24% say keeping quiet has made their mental health worse, highlighting the importance of being open.
Generally, the biggest barriers to speaking about mental health were fear of burdening others with struggles (26%), fear of being judged or labelled (21%) and feeling like no one will truly understand (21%). Three quarters (72 %) report at least one factor making them feel uncomfortable talking about their real feelings, rising to a huge 894% of 16-24 year olds.
Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. Taking place every year, it’s a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives.
Not having conversations can have a negative impact on all aspects of life, including jobs, relationships, friendships and health. Mind, Rethink Mental Illness and Co-op are calling on people to get comfortable talking and start a conversation, however small, about how they are really feeling. Across the UK, Time to Talk Day is delivered by See Me with SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) in Scotland, Inspire in Northern Ireland and Time to Change Wales.
Kate Anderson, 19, from Surrey said: “I first experienced mental health problems in my mid-teens, but it took me a while to recognise what I was going through. We weren’t taught about mental health problems at school, so I didn’t know much about them. Because of that, I didn’t feel confident or comfortable having a conversation about how I was feeling.
“A year on, my anxiety was so bad that I was missing school. Even still, I didn’t speak to my friends or family about it. I was worried I’d burden them. I reached out to a teacher and got the help I needed. I’ve since received mental health support, and I have a job where being open about your mental health is valued. Now I want to help other people to find the confidence to reach out. I don’t hide that I have experienced mental health problems. It’s helped me to start vital conversations and create an environment where people feel comfortable opening up to me.”
Dr Sarah Hughes, Chief Executive of Mind, said: "Talking about mental health isn’t always easy, and as a society, we still shy away from these conversations out of fear of being rejected. Our research shows this silence can have a real impact on our lives by creating barriers that push friends and family away, disrupt social lives, and make school or work more challenging.
"This Time to Talk Day, we have an opportunity to break this cycle. Small, everyday actions—like starting a conversation during a walk or a coffee break—can help foster understanding and create an environment where we feel comfortable to talk. Let’s lead by example, listen with empathy, and show that talking about mental health can make a real difference to individuals and our communities."
Rebecca Birkbeck, Director of Community and Member Participation, Co-op, said: “Mental wellbeing is central to building stronger, more resilient communities, and our member-owners have told us it’s an issue they care about deeply and 25,000 members have helped shape our partnership for 2025. The research shows that people across the UK don’t want to have conversations about their mental wellbeing as they worry it would be awkward. By working together, we can normalise talking about mental wellbeing and foster a culture where everyone feels supported and connected.”
Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said: “These findings are a reminder that while many people may feel awkward talking about mental health, not doing so can have far-reaching consequences. As our survey reveals, staying silent about our mental health is leading to isolation and impacting our lives at work and school, especially among young people. We know that speaking about mental health for the first time can feel challenging, and that many unhelpful thoughts might be preventing you from opening up. But we encourage people to find a place they feel comfortable this Time to Talk Day and start a conversation – you never know the positive difference it might make to you or to the other person.”
Time to Talk Day 2025 is run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness and is being delivered in partnership with Co-op for the fourth year running. Across the UK, it’s delivered by See Me with SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) in Scotland, Inspire in Northern Ireland and Time to Change Wales.
The partners are supporting communities across the UK to encourage mental health conversations by providing free resources, including tips on how to have the conversation, and running a UK-wide awareness campaign. This year will mark 10 years of Time to Talk Day.
For information about Time to Talk Day, including tips on starting the conversation, visit: timetotalkday.co.uk. Follow the conversation on social media #TimeToTalk.
