Time to Talk Day helps to break the silence on mental health

February 6, 2015

150205 Time to Talk DayThursday 5 February was Time to Talk Day, a campaign run by the mental health charity Time to Change which aims to tackle the stigma around mental health.

One in four of us experience a mental health problem each year, but a lack of public understanding and negative perceptions of mental illness mean a lot of people are reluctant to speak out about the difficulties they experience. This means mental illness can be very isolating, and in some cases can make problems worse.

This Time to Talk Day, Time to Change are encouraging everyone to ‘Take 5’, and have a conversation with a friend, loved one or colleague about mental health.

Emma is backing the campaign, together with Labour’s Mental Health campaign team. Labour has made mental health a priority, and the Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham MP has called improving mental health services one of the great challenges of the 21st century.

Emma works together with local charities including South Tyneside Mind to improve mental health services in Shields, and spoke on last year’s World Mental Health Day about how we can all do our part to change attitudes to mental health.

You can find out more about Time to Talk Day by clicking here.

Emma said:

“I’m really pleased to be backing Time to Talk Day. Our understanding of physical health has come so far, but our understanding of the mind is lagging behind – not just medically, but in the way we think about mental illness.

“The truth is that we all have to take care of our mental health, and that mental illness is relatively common, just like physical illness. A big part of transforming mental health treatment is changing public attitudes so that people can discuss their mental health with confidence. That’s why Time to Talk Day is such a great initiative.”

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