I might be a little late to the party today, but as most of you are aware, today is Time To Talk day. The focus is on mental health and destroying the stigma and discrimination around it. The goal for the day is to get people talking about mental health.
Talking about mental health can be awkward, and I’ll be the first to hold my hands up and say that I myself have felt awkward about it. But there’s no reason for it to be that way. One in four people will suffer from mental health issues this year alone and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.
The way you approach the situation with a friend or family member could really impact them and even change their life. Not only that, there are a few things you can do in your day to day life that can have the smallest or biggest impact on a persons mental health. Something as small as texting a friend who you haven’t spoke to in a while, or being a shoulder to cry on.
Time to Change is growing social movement, and they’re working to help change the way we all think and act about mental health. Their newest campaign is called ‘Ask Twice’. It’s based around something that we’re all probably guilty of, and that’s when someone asks if we’re okay we say we are, even when we’re not.
They want you to ask them twice, if you notice a friend or a colleague acting different and they say they’re fine, ask again. They might have a whole different answer for you the second time around. If they do, I understand that there’s always a chance you won’t know what to say next… but fear not, Time to Change has it all covered. Check out the following link for some tips: What To Do When Someone Opens Up.
I’m no stranger to mental health issues, just know that my inbox is always open even if you just want to vent, I’m no expert but I’m always there to listen, just drop me a message on my Contact page.
It’s not about having all of the answers, it’s about being there. Call someone you haven’t spoke to in a while, say hello to colleagues as you pass them, and smile at people passing by.
You never know when you might save someone.
Llama Symphony 