We had “Time to Talk Day” on the 1st of February this year. What is Time to Talk Day? It is an annual awareness day held to start conversations about mental health. Talking about mental health is never easy, but one conversation holds the power to change lives.
Importance of having Mental Health conversations
There is still a significant amount of stigma surrounding mental health, as many people believe having a conversation about mental health means that they have a mental illness. However, that is not the case. Our health and wellbeing are affected by many aspects of our lives, and that in turn affects our work, time spent with others, and all other experiences.
Over the pandemic, the importance of having conversations with people to ensure they do not feel lonely or isolated was highlighted more than usual. Feeling isolated or like you cannot talk to anyone about your mental health can have a direct impact on your physical health.
How to Start a Conversation
Staring a conversation is not as difficult as you think. Helping people feel more comfortable about opening up can be relatively easy with the right tips. Below are some tips from Mind that you can use to kick-start these conversations:
- Ask someone how they are doing or feeling.
- Use your own personal experiences as a starting point.
- Talk about how you maintain personal wellbeing, relax or de-stress.
- You can use topical news stories to highlight interesting points.
Support at One You
Physical activity is proven to have a positive effect on our mental health. At One You, our Health Coaches can support you in increasing your physical activity and supporting your mental health indirectly as well. All you have to do is sign-up using our referral form https://thrivetribe.typeform.com/to/YAENFT5v?typeform-source=oneyou-rbkc-westminster.org.uk or by calling us up on 020 3434 2500, to get 12-weeks of FREE personalised support.
