Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Community Health (LCH) NHS Trust are working with a number of community partners to promote ‘Time to Talk’ day.
‘Time to Talk’ day takes place on Thursday 5th February and is a national campaign which aims to reduce stigma and challenge prejudice around mental health.
Every year 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem. Some of the most commonly experienced mental health problems in the UK include conditions such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, stress and phobias.
During the first week of February , Liverpool’s Time to Change Network which comprises of key partner organisations from across the city including LCH, Richmond Fellowship, Imagine Mental Health, CHATs and Big Love Sista, will be hosting a range of awareness events to help create greater awareness of mental health issues and encourage people to talk about their feelings more.
On Thursday 5th February, members of the public should look out for the Time to Talk giant speech bubbles and photo frames which will be moving around the city to help encourage conversations about mental health through face to face chats and on social media.
The speech bubbles and photo frames will be at the following locations:
• Monday 2nd February, Sefton Park, 1.00 – 4.00pm
• Tuesday 3rd February, Our Time Coffee Social (Rosie Childs Centre, Old Swan) – 12.00 – 4.00pm
• Thursday 5th February, Pier Head, 11.00am
A team of trained health promotion staff will also be on hand at each venue to chat to people, answer questions about mental health, and help signpost people to further advice and support if needed.
Lord Mayor, Councillor Erica Kemp, CBE said:
“This is a really great initiative challenging the stigma that can sometimes exist around the subject of mental health, and enabling people to feel more comfortable to talk about how they are feeling.”
“I am encouraging everyone in Liverpool to take part in Time to Talk Day on 5th February by committing to have a 5 minute conversation with a friend, family member or work colleague, and to join us in being part of this big conversation on mental health.”
The good news is that with support from local mental health services, about half of those diagnosed with a mental health condition, will have made a full recovery within 18 months.
Paul White, Mental Health Lead for Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust explains:
“We know that men aren’t always good at talking about how they are feeling, especially if they are feeling down or struggling to cope with stress or anxiety about things like work, relationships, or money pressures. But not talking about these kinds of feelings can be hugely detrimental to your long term health and wellbeing.
“Male suicide is now the single biggest cause of death in men aged between 20 – 49 in Merseyside, so during Time to Talk Day we especially want to encourage men to connect with others and to talk to someone if there’s anything on their mind.”
Henry Downes, Community Links Advisor for Richmond Fellowship explains:
“Experiencing a mental health problem is hard enough for anyone to cope with, but sometimes the stigma that exists around it and the isolation that this can cause individuals to feel, can make it much worse.
“Talking about mental health doesn’t need to be difficult, and can make a big difference to those affected by it. Time to Talk Day is about us all working together to help break the silence”
City-wide activities will also focus on a number of events that aim to support greater awareness of mental health problems amongst men.
For more information on local services, activities and tips to support your mental health and wellbeing, please contact: www.wellbeingliverpool.co.uk
You can also join the 24 hour Time to Talk conversation on twitter using the hashtag #TimetoTalk or visit: www.time-to-change.org.uk/timetotalkday for more information.