Talk about how you really feel this Time to Talk Day

Time to Talk Day is on Thursday 1 February 2024. It’s a chance for all of us to be more open about our mental health and talk about how we really feel.

1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Too many of us are made to feel isolated, worthless and ashamed because of this.

Time to Talk Day is held at the beginning of February every year by Rethink Mental Illness and Mind, delivered in partnership with Co-op.

It is about helping people and communities to come together to have the nation’s biggest mental health conversation.

Our Chief Medical Officer, Chris Abbott, said “At the Tavistock and Portman we know the value of talking and mental health. In many ways we are the home of talking therapies and psychotherapy in the NHS. We know that having someone listening carefully to what we say can help us make sense of life and cope better with its difficulties.

“Our focus has always been on the value of talking and communication in the psychotherapeutic relationship. We have found through long-term research that talking therapies can often still offer the best hope for some for long-term relief from depression and other psychological ailments. Through the application of hard-science such as the use of MRI, we can see how the process of talking with a trained therapist actually alters the way the brain’s neurons are connected and can effect permanent, positive changes in how we interact with the world.

“Even the most down to earth medical professionals know that learning how to listen and talk to their patients improves medical outcomes. Not only this, but it is incredibly important for doctors, surgeons and other medical professionals to talk about the stresses of their work – the Balint Groups that were introduced by the Tavistock have long been a key support network for NHS staff.”

How do I start a conversation about mental health?

You don’t need to be an expert to talk about mental health. You can:

• Text a friend
• Put up posters at work or school
• Chat over a cup of tea with a colleague
• Host an awareness event in your community
• Share something on social media using #TimeToTalk