Mental health problems will affect one in four people, yet so many of us are still struggling to open-up due to the stigma attached to mental health. If it’s not you that’s affected, it might be a friend, family member or colleague – which is why it’s so important to be able to start positive conversations about mental health.

Remember, you don’t have to be an expert to talk about mental health. Simply checking in with somebody can make a big difference by showing them that you care and that you are there for them.

What is Time to Talk Day?

Time to Talk Day will be taking place on 6 February 2020 and encourages everybody across the country to talk about openly about mental health, with the aim of reducing the stigma and preventing those who are struggling from feeling isolated.

This year, Time to Talk Day are using a ‘Would you rather’ approach to help break down the barriers and start the conversation about mental health.

For Time to Talk Day, we’ve put together some useful tips for starting positive conversations about mental health:

1. Give your full attention

A simple, but effective way to show somebody that you care when starting a positive conversation about mental health is by giving them your full, undivided attention. Whether that means putting down your phone, looking away from your computer or moving to an environment where there are no other distractions, giving someone your full attention will go a long way in helping that person feel as though they can open up to you.

2. Use open questions

Asking open-ended questions that require more than a ‘yes/no’ answer is key to having positive conversations about mental health. Open-ended questions encourage people to talk and help to show you are genuinely interested in how they are feeling.

Try replacing ‘Are you OK’ with ‘How are you?’ or ask questions such as ‘How long have you been feeling like this?’.

3. Repeat what they’ve said

By repeating something back to someone is a way of reassuring someone that you understand what they are saying, and it can also help to show they have your attention.

4. Be patient

Don’t be put off by a negative response – it might take somebody several attempts of asking how they are before they feel ready to open up to you. It’s important to not give up trying or letting them know you are there for them.

During the conversation itself, allow the person who’s talking to take their time to articulate what they are feeling – remember, this can be difficult for them and it might even be the first time they’ve tried to put it into words.

5. Don’t fill the silence

Don’t be afraid of silence, and don’t try and fill it. Silence provides somebody with the space to think about what it is they want to tell you and it can also help increase your connection with that person.

We all have mental health and sometimes it can be hard to recognise if someone is struggling.

Start the conversation this Time to Talk Day to help break down the barriers that surround mental health.

Choose talk, change lives.

For more information about Time to Talk Day, click here.