Talking about mental health can be a challenge and it’s not always easy to know when and how to start a conversation about it. However, talking and raising awareness of mental health problems is essential if we are to overcome the stigma of these conditions and help the people around us when they’re suffering.
Every year, Mind and Rethink Mental Illness run Time to Talk Day—a day for all of us to come together to talk and listen in a safe and non-judgemental environment. In this blog, we’ll explore what Time to Talk Day is, the benefits of talking about mental health, and ideas of how you can start a conversation with the people in your life.
What is Time to Talk Day?
Taking place on 6th February 2025, Time to Talk Day is an annual day of awareness that aims to spark open, honest conversations about mental health. We all know that talking about mental health, whether our own or that of a loved one, can be challenging. But communication is one of the best tools we have to overcome the stigma and help those in need.
What are the benefits of talking?
The aim of the day is to create supportive communities that start with striking up conversations with our family, friends, and colleagues about mental health and other difficult conversations.
For example, mental health conditions can impair our ability to make sound decisions about healthcare, finances, or other important matters. Time to Talk Day is the perfect opportunity to have those difficult conversations like assigning Power of Attorney to protect the ones you love, or encourage those who are struggling to seek professional help.
It can also help to build cultures of prevention by developing supportive communities that break down the stigma of mental health problems. Unfortunately, many people think that talking about mental health with people who are struggling will make the condition worse or bring their mood further down. But nothing could be further from the truth—in fact, studies have shown that talking about our problems can minimise stress and reduce emotional suffering. Events like Time to Talk Day provide everyone with the skills and confidence they need to start important conversations when it’s needed.
What can cause mental health problems?
There are many reasons why someone might be struggling with mental health issues. It might be a condition that they’ve struggled with many times in their life or it might be an entirely new experience that has seemingly developed out of nowhere. For many people, it’s likely a combination of factors that’s causing their poor mental health.
These could be loneliness or social isolation, chronic health conditions, drug or alcohol misuse, being the victim of trauma or abuse, experiencing discrimination or stigma, or long-term stress from lifestyle factors like losing their job or poor housing.
How to start a conversation:
Choose the time and place wisely
Timing is everything when it comes to mental health. You want all parties to feel comfortable and relaxed, without feeling pressured to open up. For example, it might be easier to talk sitting side by side rather than opposite one another, or while you’re both doing something else like cooking a meal or going for a walk. However, don’t let the perfect spot stop you from having the conversations you want to have.
Be validating
It’s not necessary to completely agree with someone in order to validate how they feel. All validation means is that you hear what they’re saying and accept their views and experiences. That doesn’t mean you have to understand or have had the same experiences though. Phrases like “That’s understandable”, “I can see why you’d think that”, or “It makes sense why you’re upset” can all be validating and help people feel comfortable opening up.
Set boundaries
Talking about the struggles someone you care about is going through can be tough—sometimes, it can take its toll on your mental health as well. It’s OK, encouraged even, to set boundaries and end the conversation when it becomes too much. While that might sound counterintuitive, it actually puts you in the driving seat in terms of how the conversation is going and the direction it takes. It helps everyone stay calm and can ensure that future conversations don’t immediately become heated and unproductive.
Know you don’t have to fix it
It’s hard seeing someone in your life having a difficult time, but you don’t need to offer quick fixes to resolve their problems. It can be a long journey to overcome mental health problems, and one that may even require professional guidance—they may have already tried different tools or strategies themselves. As Time to Talk Day encourages, just talking is a powerful way to help, so just be prepared to listen without taking action.
Don’t treat them differently
Opening up in a conversation leaves us feeling vulnerable, especially if this is the first time they’ve acknowledged their mental health issues. But it’s important not to treat them any differently. They’re still the same person they were before and offering your support and care is enough. You don’t need to feel like you need to side-step conversations or topics. Just do what you would normally do and be supportive.
It’s hard sometimes to know how to broach difficult topics but showing you care by talking about mental health can change lives and help people who are struggling to know someone cares.
