Every year we celebrate Time to Talk Day in February, and this year it falls on February 2nd. It’s one of the nation’s biggest days to talk about mental health, where we hope that everyone will come together to speak, listen and change the lives of those with mental health issues.
Mental health is such a big part of life now for many people, and not everyone is able to get the help they need to conquer their mental health problems. However talking can help in so many ways – it can give support to those who need it, and sometimes even help push those who need help to go seek it out. The Time to Talk Day campaign hopes that by opening up the conversation about mental health it can help to create a better, supportive community for those who need it.
5 facts about mental health:
- Mental health affects millions of people – 1 in 4 people will suffer or are suffering from a mental health problem
- 9 out of 10 people believe that they will face, or are currently facing, stigma and discrimination because of mental health problems
- Anxiety and depression are the most common mental disorders in the UK, with 7.8% of people meeting the criteria for diagnosis
I’m sure we can all understand that talking about mental health isn’t easy as the stigma around it is still strong even today, but hopefully by celebrating Time to Talk Day we can begin the steps to erasing that stigma and help to create a better life for everyone through conversations.
Want to get involved? You can take part in many ways – joining an event near you, discussing Time to Talk Day at work or at home, posting about the day on social media, or even just texting a friend and making sure they are okay.
timetotalkday.co.uk/how-to-take-part/community
Either way, make sure to make space for a conversation this Time to Talk Day, on February 2nd.