10th October is World Mental Health Day, and the focus this year for me is very much that Conversations Start Journeys.
Taking the time to talk to someone and find out how they are can be transformative and healing. Taking an interest in how someone is, can help them feel like they matter.
According to the Campaign to End Loneliness, feelings of loneliness can be as dangerous as to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, with our mental health and loneliness intrinsically linked. So, why not reach out to someone today and find out how they are?
According to the Mental Health Foundation, we get asked “How are you?” up to 14 times a week, but only mean “I’m fine” 19% of the time. For that reason, Time to Change suggests you #AskTwice.
Their suggestions around mental health and opening conversations also include:
- Take it seriously
- Listen and reflect
- Ask questions
- Don’t try and fix it
- Build your knowledge.
