This Time to Talk Day (Thursday 3rd February), NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) want local people to start a conversation about their mental health.
Each year, one in four of us will experience a mental health problem, and many who do, struggle to tell others how they are coping. This can cause further isolation and even problems with physical health.
You can begin your conversation with a friend, family member or colleague, when and where you feel most comfortable. This can be in person, virtually, or over the phone, whichever is right for you.
If another person chooses to talk to you about their wellbeing, take the time to listen. By showing kindness and understanding, you can make talking about mental health a normal thing to do.
Whether you need conversation starters, pocket-sized tips for day-to-day living, or contact numbers for organisations who can offer you additional support, NHSGGC can help you understand and improve your own mental wellbeing. NHSGGC’s Mental Health Improvement team have a range of resources, for children, adults and older adults, which you can find at: https://www.nhsggc.org.uk/about-us/professional-support-sites/mental-health-improvement-and-equalities/about-us/.
Heather Sloan, Health Improvement Lead for Mental Health, said: “It is more important than ever to talk about our mental wellbeing. By beginning your wellbeing conversation, you can encourage others to start theirs.”
“When we talk about our wellbeing, we create a safe atmosphere to explore their thoughts and feelings. This helps tackle the stigma of mental health and improves outcomes for patients.
“Everyone has mental health and it can be a scale; we can have good days as well as bad days. The important thing is to recognise what supports we have when we are having a bad day and something as simple as having someone to talk to can really help.
“Our mental health is equally as important as our physical health and we need to give it the same attention. It’s good to Talk!”
Like anyone, NHS staff members experience challenges which impact upon their mental wellbeing. Staff are busier than ever and, as the pandemic continues, many are dealing with upsetting circumstances at work. Those can have a negative impact on life away from the frontline.
Laura Andre, Health Improvement Senior within the Mental Health team, recognises the impact COVID-19 has had on staff well-being across health and social care:
“In our own roles, we spend all of our time looking after others, and can sometimes forget to look after our own well-being. This has particularly been the case during the ongoing pandemic.
“That is why we are proud to be supporting Time to Talk Day. We encourage everyone to take the time to begin their own conversations about well-being with their friends and family.”
See Me Scotland encourage everyone across Greater Glasgow and Clyde to take part in Time to Talk Day. Whether by hosting a team chat, spending time with friends, or talking about how you are feeling, you can make a difference to a life.
Friends, families, and workplaces can all take part in Time to Talk Day. You can find resources to host your own Time to Talk Day event at https://www.seemescotland.org/seeus/campaigns/time-to-talk/time-to-talk-day-2022/.
ENDS