Every day is a good time to talk

Just like physical health, we all have mental health, yet we can be uncomfortable talking about it. Sometimes we have good mental health and other times it is not so good. We may have a mental health condition and be managing this very well, have some bad days or are struggling. Life events can knock us and sometimes it is pile of things that build on top of each other which can make us feel overwhelmed and unable to cope. We are also all different in how we respond and what helps. Some people will share with others how they are feeling, others prefer not to or are unaware how they are feeling as they are unwell.

 Time to Talk day is  7 February which is a national campaign by the mental health charity See Me. However, every day is time to talk. Listening to a colleague when they’ve had a bad day, having a laugh, showing we care, catching up over a coffee help us all to have better mental health. Don’t underestimate the impact we can make to someone’s wellbeing by showing an interest. It is the small things that can make a big difference such as:

• Performing a random act of kindness for someone
• Checking in with someone over a text
• Arranging to meet up with someone you care about
• Having a chat over lunch
• Calling someone you have not spoken to for a while
• Telling someone that you appreciate what they have done for you
• Asking “how are you?” and meaning it
• Going for a walk with someone and finding out how they are getting on

Conversations have the power to change lives, wherever they take place.