Time to Talk Day

This Thursday (6th February) is Time to Talk Day with the aim being to get people talking about mental health. Mental Health charities Mind & Rethink Mental Illness who are behind the Time to Talk Day suggest 1 in 4 people are affected by mental health problems.

There is often a stigma around mental health that leaves people feeling embarrassed or ashamed to talk about mental health.

Various groups are being set up all over the country to help and encourage people to be more open about their mental health. My colleague, Colin Walton, and I have recently completed a weight loss challenge that raised money for one such group – Andys Man Club, who had 843 men attend their various groups on 3rd February – but there are others starting up such as Men-talk based here in Chesterfield.

The aim of these groups is to provide an environment for people to talk about how they are feeling, without that idea that it is embarrassing or weak to admit that you might be struggling. The aim is to make people understand that it is okay to talk and it is okay to not be okay.

The charities have provided guidance on how people can get involved - https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/get-involved/time-talk-day - this year based around the “Would you rather?” game. Hopefully it can trigger conversations around mental health across the country and continue to make mental health a more open topic for discussion.