Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. It’s a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives.
We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health, yet most of us won’t have a problem telling our friends or workmates when we come down with a nasty cold, how awful we feel when the symptoms are making it difficult to sleep at night, or how hard it is doing everyday tasks when you're feeling sick. Most of us will talk about physical health without a second thought, but when it comes to discussing mental health this is where we can become stuck.
Both physical and mental health fluctuates throughout our lives. We all will experience times where we don’t feel our best, and may need a bit of extra support.
Some of us will struggle with our health more than others .Some us will have received a diagnosis that requires support to help us to recover. Some of us may be living with a long-term condition that requires treatment to help us to manage symptoms. However, there is one big difference between mental health and physical health - our attitudes towards it. This difference is something we need to continue to change, and that change is something all of us can be apart of. How is it that 1 in 4 of us experience a mental health problem yet not enough of us are talking about it?
Of course, opening up about mental health can be daunting, and many of us will have our varying reasons for why this conversation may feel so frightening. Some of us may even sit in silence because we think talking about our feelings is a weakness, but that couldn't be further from the truth, opening-up can be difficult, and it takes great strength to do so.
Talking about your mental health can be empowering and helps normalise your experience, struggling with poor mental health or a mental illness isn’t a secret that should be locked away, there is nothing to be ashamed of. Reaching out to someone can also be the first step to seeking support. The more of us that open-up about our own experiences, and start these conversations around mental health the more we reduce stigma around it and encourage others to do the same.
When you’re experiencing poor mental health the world can feel like a lonely place to be in, but reaching out to others will help you to see that you are not alone.
Find out more about our FREE Peer Support Groups which provides a supportive space for participants to share their experiences with other music industry professionals.
A conversation around mental health is a two way street.
We can learn to be open about our own mental health and to also be receptive to others' experiences.
If someone comes to us to discuss their mental health or we want to approach
someone who we believe may be struggling, we need to feel more
comfortable in having these discussions, and to know we are doing what we
can to make this conversation meaningful and helpful for the other person.
Following these steps can help:
STEP 1
If we notice someone is struggling we need to ask them directly. It shows the
person you have cared enough to notice and that you don’t feel uncomfortable
having this conversation, which is likely to make them feel more comfortable
about opening up.
STEP 2
Listen and respond to what they are saying, free from judgement. Truly listen
to what the person is telling you, let them express it and acknowledge how
they must be feeling. Avoid using terms such as ‘cheer up’ or 'it's not that
bad’ as this can may make the person feel insignificant, conveys a lack of empathy for their situation, and can come across as if the conversation doesn’t feel important to you.
STEP 3
Be empathetic and supportive. Offer your support in whatever way you can,
this can be practical support or even just letting them know you are
there for them if they ever need to talk.
STEP 4
Encourage them to seek help if they need it, such as suggesting that they make an
appointment with their GP or other appropriate professional.
Find out more about our FREE Mental Health First Aid course, which trains participants how to identify, understand and help someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue.