Every year Mind and Rethink Mental Illness run Time to Talk Day which is ‘a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives’.

Talking about mental health, let alone starting a conversation about it, is not always easy. However, it is through talking openly, in a safe environment, that we can raise awareness, increase knowledge and understanding, remove the stigma, and help improve the mental wellbeing of those around us.

Therefore, we are encouraging our Supporters, partners and friends to start the conversation within their own organisations and across their networks to help break down the stigma of talking about mental health.

Why is Time to Talk Day important

• Stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 46% of work-related ill health and 55% of all working days lost due to ill health in 2023/24. [1] …
• … and yet, only 6% of men, and 4% of women, said they would discuss their mental health experiences with their employer. [2]
• ‘73% of UK employees report feeling unable to disclose mental ill-health for fear that doing so would jeopardize their job status. Similarly, 91% of UK employees believe that people with mental health problems are treated differently.’ [3]

But it does not have to be that way.

Through building cultures of prevention in the workplace (please read our blog), it is possible to create open and supportive cultures that remove the stigma, and give everyone the skills, clarity and confidence to start conversations when they need to.

How to start a conversation

Having completed some of our training courses, and having learnt how to ‘Spot the Signs’ (a free infographic can be downloaded from this page), colleague A has noticed that colleague B had not been themselves recently. After a meeting in which colleague B had uncharacteristically kept their head down and not spoken at all, colleague A approaches colleague B:

• Colleague A: “Are you okay?”
• Colleague B: “Yeah, I’m fine.”
• Colleague A: “Are you sure you’re okay? I’m here if you’d like to talk.”
• Colleague B: “Well actually, there is something.”
• Colleague A: “Shall we go and grab a cuppa, and we can have a chat.”

So often when we’re asked if we’re okay, our automatic response is “Yeah, I’m fine.” Therefore, we encourage everyone to always ask twice. It could save a life.

Resources

At Mates in Mind, we work with organisations to build positive mental health in and through work.

As part of this, we have created a suite of resources to support organisations, not only during Time to Talk Day, to create a comprehensive and ongoing programme of support.

Please click on the link below to download a free A3 poster. You can personalise it by adding the relevant details of your Mental Health First Aiders, HR team, Employee Assistance Programme and so on, in the white box. Please then share it across your organisation.

Please also visit our Resources page where you can download a free Spotting the Signs infographic to help you identify if a colleague, friend or family member may need, or want, to talk.

Visit our Resources page

If the information on this page has resonated with you, and if you or someone you know needs help or support, you can speak to one of the many free, confidential support services below:

Support Services

Mates in Mind Supporters

We have additional materials available for our Supporters in the portal, please log in below to access them:

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If you are not a Supporter but would like to find out more about our Programme please read on.

How we can support you

Mates in Mind can support your organisation to build a mental health plan and to create a culture of prevention.

Our dedicated team of Support Managers work with organisations of any size to develop a tailored action plan, evaluating your organisation's priorities and gaps, and providing the tools and support you need.

This plan includes ongoing support with communication and delivery of your plan, as well as training opportunities, promotional materials, and a suite of tools (including Time to Talk Day packs) to enable you to drive long-lasting and meaningful change.

Find out more about how we can help your organisation build a culture of prevention when you become a Supporter by:

• Visiting our Become a Supporter page.
• Calling: 020 3510 5018.
• Using this contact form.

If you would like to know when we publish new resources, please complete the newsletter sign up at the bottom of this page.

References

[1] https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/hssh2324.pdf

[2] Fewer than one in ten men would tell their employer about mental health struggles - Aviva plc

[3] World Mental Health Day: Tackling Stigma and Knowing Your Mental Health Rights in the Workplace | Action Mental Health