Campaign urges the South West to talk more

The number of us taking the time to sit and chat with someone close is dwindling, according to new research from the mental health anti-stigma programme Time to Change, which shows that nearly two thirds of people (59%) in the South West admit they should talk to family and friends more often than they currently do.

The findings were released on the first ever national Time to Talk Day (6 February) which aimed to spark one million conversations about mental health.

Exploring  how often we’re having conversations, the poll reveals only around a third (31%) of people ask their family and friends “how they are” on a daily basis, and only one in five (18%) believe they speak to their neighbours less than once a month. However, when people do get round to having their conversation, nearly three in four people (72%) prefer it face-to-face compared to by phone (7%) or email (9%).

Time to Change, which is run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, asked people up and down the country to have a conversation on Time to Talk Day to help get mental health more openly discussed in order to remove the stigma. This could be as simple as asking someone how they are, sending a quick text or having a conversation over a cuppa.

More than 600 activities took place. Employers such as The Professional Cricketers Association, Telefonica, Comic Relief, AXA PPP Healthcare and Lloyds General  helped to attempt to reach the one million conversations target. The day was  supported by celebrities including Corrie’s Beverley Callard, comedian Russell Kane and Dancing on Ice judge Ashley Roberts, who each donated a conversation. People who took part in Time to Talk Day were in with a chance of winning some time with their favourite celebrity.

Other findings from the survey include: · In terms of awkward conversations, sex (39%), money (26%), religion (18%), relationships (23%), and mental health (19%) ranked the highest from a list of subjects that people feel the most uncomfortable talking about.

Time to Change Director Sue Baker said:

 " We are asking the nation to have a conversation about mental health. Talking more openly about mental health is a really powerful way of breaking down the stigma and discrimination that one in four of us with a mental health problem have to face. Previous research has shown that people can feel uncomfortable talking about mental illness but when they do talk it’s often much easier than they expected."

“In recent years we’ve started to see a shift in public attitudes but we still have a long way to go until mental health becomes an ordinary and everyday topic - and one that we respond to in the same way as common physical health issues like cancer, diabetes or asthma.”

Time to Talk Day is part of the latest campaign from Time to Change - It’s time to talk, which highlights the little things that make a big difference to someone going through a mental health problem, like sending a text, having a chat over a cup of tea, or giving them a call.

For tips, tools and conversation starters go to www.time-to-change.org.uk/talkday or tweet #TimetoTalk to find out more.