When will now be a good time to talk?

6-minute read

How are you? That’s the classic conversation opener across the world, and the standard reply, with various phrases, amounts to: Fine, how are you?

See what happened there? To reply politely is to deflect the question away from yourself. And what if you’re not fine?

Many people who are struggling emotionally or mentally deflect innately all the time if they find it hard to open up about their challenges. That’s especially true when the struggles emanate from “women’s troubles” – the age-old phrase to cover every female health condition that is potentially embarrassing to discuss.

Those conditions often come with mental health issues, because they reach into the very core of our being, physically, emotionally and psychologically.  And there is still a tendency in the UK for doctors to diagnose women as depressed when they are in fact going through the menopause.

Time to Talk Day

On Time to Talk Day, let’s remember that NOW is a good time to talk if you have mental health challenges. Now is always a good time, because later keep on being later. And now is also a great time to create space for people to talk, while you listen.

The EveryWoman Day website is a fabulous storytelling place to talk anonymously about health conditions in the female reproductive system which remain taboo, and to learn how others have coped with them.

Time to Talk Day is an awareness day run on February 6^th every year by Rethink Mental Illness and Mind in England, with SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) in Scotland, Inspire in Northern Ireland and Time to Change Wales.

The campaign aims to break the stigma which still exists around mental health, and foster support, understanding and connection. These qualities create an environment where you can develop confidence and courage to reach out, talk, and listen to each other about mental health.

The power of connection

For many of us, mental health problems leave us feeling isolated.

Time to Talk Day 2024 revealed that nearly two thirds of the UK population put on a brave face to avoid talking about their mental health.

Recent studies have shown that women in the UK report higher levels of loneliness compared to men. This can stem from a variety of factors, including:

• Caring responsibilities: Women are more likely to take on caregiving roles for children, elderly relatives, or partners, which can lead to isolation.
• Life transitions: Events like having a baby, going through menopause, or dealing with an empty nest can leave many women feeling disconnected.
• Workplace inequality: Struggles with balancing a career and personal life, or feeling overlooked at work, can affect self-esteem and increase isolation.

Ironically, some of these used to be the very things which would create or consolidate connections. In some cultures, that’s still how it is.

Where there is a strong structure of community or family within a small geographical area, people naturally do things together, which creates a sense of belonging, and mutual support flows from there.

Thriving in nature

Dr Zach Bush believes that disconnection not just from community but from nature too contributes to chronic disease, while reconnection fosters healing.

After a career as a specialist in internal organs, a cancer researcher and a hospice doctor, Dr Bush has reached the conclusion that the profound connection between human health, the Earth, and community are the key to physical and mental health.

He stresses that we thrive within nature when nature itself is healthy. So he urges people to engage in deep relationships, spend time in nature, and embrace holistic wellness, on the basis that it leads to vitality on a personal and planetary level.

So follow the Time to Talk lead, and encourage someone to start a small conversation about their feelings – and if you can do it while you’re walking in a green space, so much the better. They may then feel able to reach out for support, and access the resources available to them.

Mental health is everyone’s issue

While women are more likely to report feelings of loneliness, men face their own unique challenges with mental health.

Societal pressures and outdated stereotypes about masculinity often discourage men from opening up about their struggles. This silence has contributed to high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide among men in the UK.

Time to Talk works to create safe spaces where men feel empowered to share their feelings and seek help without fear of judgement. Organisations like CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) and Movember also play vital roles in supporting men’s mental health and challenging harmful stigma.

If you identify as a different gender than the one you were assigned at birth, mental health challenges can be compounded by discrimination and lack of understanding. Social isolation ca arise from feeling alienated even in your own community.

Time to Talk is committed to inclusivity, encouraging conversations that embrace everyone, regardless of gender identity. Partnering with organisations like Mermaids and MindOut, they provide resources and support tailored to the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring that everyone has access to the help they need.

Resources if you feel alone

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, there are plenty of organisations and services ready to help. Here are some key resources:

• Time to Talk 💙 time-to-talk.org.uk Resources to help start mental health conversations, for everyone including workplaces, schools, youth and community groups and individuals.
• Samaritans 📞 Phone: 116 123 (Free, 24/7) A listening ear whenever you need to talk, no matter how big or small your worries.
• Women’s Aid 🛡️ womensaid.org.uk Support for women facing domestic abuse and a safe space to find guidance.
• CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) 🌟 thecalmzone.net A dedicated organisation providing support for men in crisis.
• Mermaids 🌈 mermaidsuk.org.uk Supports transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals and their families.
• Mental Health Mates 🌳 mentalhealthmates.co.uk A network of peer support groups meeting for walks and chats across the UK.
• Mind 💙 mind.org.uk Offers advice, support, and local services tailored to your needs.
• Rethink Mental Health 💙 rethink.org Advice and information about mental health conditions, carer’s rights etc.
• SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) 💙 samh.org.uk Mental health support and practical information including confidential infoline and online wellbeing support.
• Inspire 💙 inspirewellbeing.org Help in Northern and Southern Ireland for people living with mental ill health, intellectual disability, autism and addictions.
• Time to Change Wales 💙 timetochangewales.org.uk Help for workplaces, communities and services across Wales, podcast and stigma-breaking information.

Let’s talk, together

On this Time to Talk Day, let’s come together to remember that it’s always a good time to build a supportive community. Whether you’re reaching out to a friend, joining a support group, or simply sharing a cup of tea with someone, you can trust that small acts of connection can have a lasting impact.

Let’s keep the conversation going – because every time we talk, we take a step closer to breaking stigma and creating a world where no one has to face mental health struggles in silence.

#TimeToTalkDay #MentalHealthMatters

Sources

1. 1. Time to Talk
      Website: www.time-to-talk.org.uk
   2. Mind
      Website: www.mind.org.uk
   3. Samaritans
      Phone: 116 123 (Free, 24/7)
   4. Women’s Aid
      Website: www.womensaid.org.uk
   5. CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
      Website: www.thecalmzone.net
   6. Mermaids
      Website: www.mermaidsuk.org.uk
   7. Mental Health Mates
      Website: www.mentalhealthmates.co.uk