Time to Talk Day Thursday 1 February 2024

Let’s talk about mental health on Thursday 1 February 2024…

Run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, in partnership with the Co-op, Time to Talk Day returns for 2024. 

Sometimes it’s easier to tell people we’re ‘fine’ than it is to say how we really feel. Many people do not feel able to talk openly for fear of judgement.

We want to change that. This year we want to have more conversations than ever before, making everyone feel comfortable talking about mental health and supporting each other.

Time to Talk Day is about having conversations with family, friends, or colleagues about mental health. We all have mental health and talking about it reduces stigma, helping us all to speak openly about it and feel empowered to seek help when we need to.

Read on to find out more, see how you can get involved, our tips for the day and how our services can help you if you are struggling.

Why Time to Talk Day is important

• One in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem in any given year
• The cost of living crisis is only making it harder to look after our mental health
• The poorest fifth of the population are twice as likely to develop a mental health problem.
• We want everyone to feel comfortable talking about mental health – whenever they like
• Talking about mental health reduces stigma helping to create supportive communities where we can talk openly about mental health and feel empowered to seek help when we need it
• Opening up the conversation about mental health problems is important – by talking about it, we can support ourselves and others

How to take part

Time to Talk Day is about creating a society where everyone feels comfortable talking about mental health – whenever they like. If people feel able to do that, that is great. Unfortunately, many people still do not feel comfortable talking openly – fearing judgment from others. By asking those with a mental health problem and those without, to have these conversations we hope we can empower people, who will also encourage others, so these conversations will continue.

Plan a community event, check-in with a friend or pop some posters on your community notice boards. However you do it, start planning how to get your community talking about mental health on Time to Talk Day. Find out more about event ideas, social media content, download resources and more on the Time to Talk website. 

However you start your conversation, let us know on social media with #TimeToTalk and please tag us if you can.

Access our mental health support or find out how to support others

Our mental health services all highlight the importance of talking about mental health, without judgement. The vast majority of people we talk to find that things improve when they open up about how they are feeling. We want to create a society where everyone feels comfortable talking about mental health – whenever they like. Visit our Time to Talk Day Hub to find out more about our services and our training courses, which help build skills and the confidence to support others who may be struggling with their mental health.

Tips for talking

There is no right or wrong way to talk about mental health, but our tips can help make sure you are approaching the conversation helpfully.

Signs of poor mental health

It is not always easy to spot poor mental health, so we have gathered together some information to help you know what the signs could be.

If you are struggling yourself, help is available

Via 24/7 support services like SHOUT and the Samaritans, full details here.