Time to Talk
03 February 2021
It's hard enough to experience mental health problems, without having to face the judgement, shame and isolation that often wrongly surrounds them. That's why it’s important to end mental health discrimination and encourage everyone to talk about it.
Time to Talk Day 2021 is taking place on Thursday 4 February. This is a day that is dedicated to choosing to talk about mental health and helping change lives.
Mental health problems affect one in four of us*, yet too many people are made to feel isolated, ashamed and worthless because of this. Time to Talk Day encourages everyone to be more open about mental health – to talk, to listen, to change lives.
Time to Talk Day is the day to get the nation talking about mental health. The last year has been very different for all of us, and it is now more important than ever to have open conversations about mental health. A great deal has changed due to COVID-19 and the mental health impact of this new reality is significant.
This year’s focus is on the power of small, because however you have a conversation about mental health whether it’s a quick text to a friend, a zoom coffee morning with colleagues, or a socially distanced walk with your family, it has the power to make a big difference.
Sometimes a small conversation may be easily forgotten but it can have the power to make a big difference to someone who is struggling. The more conversations we have, the more myths we can bust and barriers we can break down, helping to end the isolation, shame and worthlessness that too many of us with mental health problems are made to feel.
Sometimes talking about mental health can feel awkward, but it doesn't have to. If your employer offers Vivup’s Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and you're experiencing problems or need urgent support, it is available 24/7, 365 days a year. www.vivup.co.uk
*https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/statistics-and-facts-about-mental-health/how-common-are-mental-health-problems