Accessibility statement

Time to Talk Day

Posted on 1 February 2020

Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled. Thursday 6 February is Time to Talk Day.

Choose talk, change lives #TimeToTalk

Talking about your feelings isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s part of taking charge of your wellbeing and doing what you can to stay healthy.

Talking can be a way to cope with a problem you’ve been carrying around in your head for a while. Just being listened to can help you feel supported and less alone. And it works both ways. If you open up, it might encourage others to do the same.

Top tips for having a conversation

1. You don't have to be an expert
You don't need all the answers. Just being there means a lot.

2. Keep it simple
Small actions can make a big difference. Chat over a cuppa, take a walk, or send a text.

3. Don't try and fix it
Resist the urge to offer quick fixes. Often just listening is enough.

4. Ask questions and listen
Asking questions shows that you care and want to know how someone's really doing.

Help and support

The University can help if you need to talk to someone. You can find all the contacts you need on our health and wellbeing help and support pages.

If you’re worried about reaching out and talking to someone, this video, produced by students at the University, can dispel some of your worries and some of the myths around seeking help with your mental health:

Campus drop-ins

The University is supported by the Samaritans, who hold drop-in sessions on campus during term time:

  • Mondays, 6-8pm, Seebohm Rowntree, A/TB/033
  • Wednesdays, 6-8pm, Goodricke College, GNU/001

Remember – you don’t have to be in crisis to talk to someone about your mental health.  

Health and wellbeing