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The Big Listen

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As restrictions begin to lift across the UK and we edge back towards normality, it’s tempting to try to do everything all at once. We might feel the need to make up for lost time. We might even feel pressured into throwing ourselves back into socialising, shopping (in actual shops), mixing with other people we don’t know, just because everyone else seems to be embracing our newly regained freedom… It might make some of us feel completely overwhelmed where others are just a bit anxious about the thought of getting back to ‘normal’… whatever that is.

However we feel, it’s good to remind ourselves that we’re not alone.

There’s loads of support available if you find these feelings start to impact your mental health. From blogs and advice from the Mental Health Foundation, to podcasts and support with stress from Headspace.

On Saturday 24 July Samaritans are running their annual Big Listen campaign to remind us they’re here for all of us. Whenever we need them. 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can follow all their activity on Big Listen day across their social media feeds – @samaritanscharity on Instagram and Facebook, and @samaritans on Twitter. Or you can check out their website for details of events taking place in your local area.

Opening up to talk about how we’re feeling can be daunting, but it can have amazing benefits too. Samaritans believe in the life-saving power of conversation – take a look at their Small Talk Saves Lives video.

If you’d like to volunteer for Samaritans checkout their website. And if you need support you can call Samaritans on 116 123 – calls are free and lines are always open.

It’s time to talk about mental health

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Many of us are finding things a little harder to deal with right now and one thing we can all take from the pandemic is just how seriously we need to consider mental health issues. Too long considered a taboo subject, mental health awareness is becoming more apparent than ever.

According to research carried out by the Mental Health Foundation, “Key indicators of distress among UK adults – including loneliness, suicidality and not coping well with stress – are worse now than at the start of the pandemic”.

Whether you’ve suffered with mental health issues or not, we can’t ignore the impact they’re having on so many of us anymore.

Prince William, a well-known advocate for raising the awareness of mental health, filmed a BBC documentary following his campaign to get men talking, in which former professional footballer Marvin Sordell speaks about his battle with depression and how he struggled to overcome this, culminating in trying to take his own life.

Fearne Cotton, now an ambassador for Mind, first publicly spoke of her depression in 2017. She has gone on to publish several mental health books, launched a podcast and set up a virtual mental health festival. She’s also a dedicated supporter of Time to Talk Day and other major campaigns.

Matt Haig’s book, Reasons to stay alive, details his own story of dealing with crisis, illness and learning to live again. He talks about his own experience with depression and ways of dealing with it.

The popular Netflix series 13 Reason Why, ITV’s Britain Get Talking campaign, the lyrics to Don Diablo’s Kill Me Better, the list could go on… mental health is the message people want to highlight right now.

The recurring theme throughout is how important it is to talk openly about mental health, but with 60% of those with a mental health problem waiting over a year to tell the people closest to them about it, is enough being done?

Time to change is raising awareness of mental health and want to ensure everyone can access help and support when they need it. As part of their ongoing work they’ve been running Time to Talk Day since 2014, to get us talking and changing lives. Taking place on Thursday 4 February, they encourage us all to be a part of it to help end mental health discrimination.

We might not be able to talk face to face at the moment, but it doesn’t mean we can’t all make a difference. Time to change will be holding a first ever virtual festival, consisting of a day of online activities you can join from home. The festival will cover the serious matters of talking about mental health, but also some more light hearted activities, cooking, yoga, Bollywood dancing – there’s something for everyone.

Maybe you’re looking to learn about mental health and how to help someone cope? Time to Change shares tips on how to talk about mental health, along with regular local events you can get involved in.  Taking just a few minutes out of your day could change someone else’s.

If you’re worried about your own, or someone else’s mental health, it’s important to remember you’re not alone. Visit the Time to Change website for organisations who can support you.

“A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.” – Eeyore, A.A. Milne.