Time To Change.

I’m quite happy to talk about mental health, it’s not something to be embarrassed about and you never know how much you could help someone just by listening to their problems. The following blog entry isn’t triggering and if anyone wants to speak to me please get in touch.

Time To Change is an anti-stigma campaign run by the mental health charity Mind and Rethink. Their latest campaign is happening on February 5th called ‘Time to Talk Day’ where they’re encouraging everyone to have just a five minute chat about mental health. Having a mental health problem is hard enough, but sometimes the isolation and stigma can make it even worse.  But Time To Change are helping to break the silence and you can too. Talking about mental health doesn’t need to be difficult and can make a big difference.

There are lots of ways you can make your 5 minutes count, whether it be at work, at school, online, in the community or with friends and family. Time To Change have lots of suggestions and materials to support what you’re doing.  Tell them who you’ll be having your conversation with and order or download your pack on their website. http://www.time-to-change.org.uk

Mental health is a lot more common than most people realise, it’s said one in four of us suffer with some form of mental health issue every year. My personal story of recovery from anorexia and depression isn’t something I discuss with people, it doesn’t define me as a person, if anything it’s made me the strong person that I am today. It wasn’t until I was recovered and out of therapy that I started to realise the importance of charities like Time To Change. Celebrities like Stephen Fry, Ruby Wax, Gok Wan, Frankie Sandford, Claudia Winkleman and Trevor Nelson all support the work done by the charities involved with this campaign as they themselves have had personal experiences with mental illness and want to help fight the stigma.

Some tips from the charity when it comes to starting a conversation are;

I think I have a mental health problem: tips on talking

• Be prepared: Think about the different reactions, positive and negative, that the person might have so you’re prepared. The person will be thinking about their perception of mental illness, you as a person and how the two fit together.
• Choose a good time: Choose a time and place when you feel comfortable and ready to talk.
• Be ready for lots of questions…or none: The person you are talking might have lots of questions or need further formation to help them understand. Or they might feel uncomfortable and try to move the conversation on – if this happens it’s still helpful that the first step has been taken.
• An initial reaction might not last: The person might initially react in a way that’s not helpful – maybe changing the subject, using clichés rather than listening. But give them time.
• Keep it light: We know that sometimes people are afraid to talk about mental health because they feel they don’t know what to say or how to help. So keeping the conversation light will help make you both feel relaxed.
• Take up opportunities to talk: If someone asks you about your mental health, don’t shy away, be yourself and answer honestly.
• Courage is contagious: Often once mental health is out in the open people want to talk. Don’t be surprised if your honesty encourages other people to talk about their own experiences.

If there’s someone you know who might need to talk to someone here’s some helpful contacts.

Samaritans

Telephone: 08457 90 90 90 (24 hours a day)

Mind Infoline

Telephone: 0300 123 3393 (9am-5pm Monday to Friday)
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Web site: www.mind.org.uk/help/advice_lines

Rethink Mental Illness Advice Line

Telephone: 0300 5000 927   (10am-2pm Monday to Friday)
Email: info@rethink.org
Website: http://www.rethink.org/about-us/our-mental-health-advice