It's time to talk: our new film about relationships

Talking about mental health with a new partner or even a long term loved one can be daunting. Our recent survey found that three quarters of people (75%) living with a mental health problem would feel scared telling their partner about it for the first time. In the same poll, one in ten respondents said it took them over a year to finally tell a new partner about their mental illness, which shows that people still feel afraid to open up about something that affects one in four of us. 

But with good advice and understanding, being open can be the key to a strong relationship. Shea gives her top five tips to all couples dealing with mental illness in their relationship.

We've produced a short film with theatre company Likely Story to take a look at fear and stigma in relationships. You might have seen Likely Story pop up at one of our roadshows that took place around the country in 2011. This short film takes a light hearted approach to relationships and mental health, showing a woman telling a new boyfriend that she has bipolar disorder on their fifth date. The video is a quirky way to spread awareness of how mental health can affect different areas of people's lives, and how being open about it at the start can set things off on the right path...