The number of us taking the time to sit and chat with someone close is dwindling, according to new research from the mental health anti-stigma programme Time to Change, which shows that two thirds of people (66%)1 admit they should talk to family and friends more often than they currently do.
The findings are released today - on the first ever national Time to Talk Day (6 February) which aims to spark one million conversations about mental health.
Exploring how often we’re having conversations, the poll reveals only just over a third (37%) of people ask their family and friends “how they are” on a daily basis, and over a quarter (26%) believe they speak to their neighbours less than once a month. However, when people do get round to having their conversation, nearly three in four people (73%) prefer it face-to-face compared to by phone (8%) or email (8%).
Time to Change, which is run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, is asking people up and down the country to have a conversation on Time to Talk Day to help get mental health more openly discussed in order to remove the stigma. This could be as simple as asking someone how they are, sending a quick text or having a conversation over a cuppa.
More than 600 activities are taking place. Employers such as The Professional Cricketers Association, Telefonica, Comic Relief, AXA PPP Healthcare and Lloyds General will be helping to reach the one million conversations target. The day will also be supported by celebrities including Corrie’s Beverley Callard, comedian Russell Kane and Dancing on Ice judge Ashley Roberts, who have each donated a conversation. People taking part in Time to Talk Day could be in with a chance of winning some time with their favourite celebrity.
Other findings from the survey include:
- In terms of awkward conversations, sex (35%), money (25%), religion (17%), relationships (16%), and mental health (16%) ranked the highest from a list of subjects that people feel the most uncomfortable talking about.
- Over 55s are the least uncomfortable talking about a variety of topics, whereas just under one in five young people aged 18-24 (19%) feel awkward talking mental and physical health.
Time to Change Director Sue Baker said:
Today we are asking the nation to have a conversation about mental health. Talking more openly about mental health is a really powerful way of breaking down the stigma and discrimination that one in four of us with a mental health problem have to face. Previous research has shown that people can feel uncomfortable talking about mental illness but when they do talk it’s often much easier than they expected. In recent years we’ve started to see a shift in public attitudes but we still have a long way to go until mental health becomes an ordinary and everyday topic - and one that we respond to in the same way as common physical health issues like cancer, diabetes or asthma.
Time to Talk Day is part of the latest campaign from Time to Change - It’s time to talk, which highlights the little things that make a big difference to someone going through a mental health problem, like sending a text, having a chat over a cup of tea, or giving them a call.
For more information on getting involved in Time to Talk Day and for tips, tools and conversation starters go to www.time-to-change.org.uk/talkday or tweet #TimetoTalk to find out more.
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Notes to Editors
1All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,268 GB adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between Fieldwork Time: 6th - 8th January 2014. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
For more information please contact Larissa Abl, Time to Change Senior Press Officer, on [email protected] or 0207 840 3137
Time to Change
Time to Change is England's most ambitious programme to end the stigma and discrimination faced by people with mental health problems. The programme is run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, and funded by the Department of Health, Comic Relief and the Big Lottery Fund.
For more information go to www.time-to-change.org.uk
Department of Health
On 2 February 2011 the Department of Health launched No health without mental health, a cross-government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages which has the twin aims of keeping people well and improving their mental health and, when people are not well, improving their outcomes through high-quality services.
The strategy is based on six shared objectives, developed with partners from across the mental health sector, and focuses on ‘Recovery’ and the reduction of stigma and discrimination as overarching themes.
To help deliver the objective to reduce the stigma faced by people with mental health problems, in 2011 the Department agreed to support Time to Change, the anti-stigma campaign run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. The Department of Health is providing the campaign with up to £16 million of funding together with a further £4 million from Comic Relief and £3.6 million from the Big Lottery Fund. This funding will help Time to Change continue their work until March 2015.
Comic Relief
Comic Relief is committed to supporting people living with mental health problems. The projects Comic Relief funds ensure people with mental health problems get their voices heard in the decisions that affect their lives and get the help they need to recover. Comic
Relief also helps people to promote their rights and reduce the stigma and discrimination they face so that they feel more included in society. The £4 million grant to Time to Change is the second time the charity has awarded Time to Change its largest UK grant and is part of
Comic Relief's long standing commitment to this issue. For more information go to www.comicrelief.com
Big Lottery Fund
Big Lottery Fund supported the first phase of Time to Change with funding of over £16million, and in 2013 awarded the programme a further £3.6m from its Well-being programme to build on its success and work with targeted communities. Big Lottery Fund also supported the campaign’s roll out across Wales.
The largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, Big Lottery Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has awarded close to £6bn to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since 2004. For full details of the Big Lottery Fund's work visit: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk