Time To Talk Day: Opening Up & Starting Conversations About Mental Health

Time to Talk Day is on the 6th of February 2025, and aims to draw attention to mental health and the importance of reaching out to others. Here at zeno we understand how important it is to help people open up and be honest about mental health, without the fear and stigma often attached to the topic. It can be daunting to express personal struggles and because of this, many people keep everything bottled up. By opening up, the likelihood of the person suffering seeking help increases, which can be crucial to the healing process.

Let’s be part of changing the narrative this Time to Talk Day – here are some tips to help you get started with those deeper conversations.

Make time:

It can take time for someone to open up, so it’s really important to ensure that you’re not going to have to cut your conversation short. Having an in-depth conversation with someone just before you have a scheduled phone call or meeting could make it seem like you’re trying to get away from the conversation, or might not give you adequate time to give the best support and signposting. Make sure you have time to really sit, listen and support someone.

Keep It Informal:

Formal settings can make some people feel less at ease and as a result, less likely to open up about how they really feel. Grab a cuppa in a comfy setting, or perhaps take a walk in nature and let the conversation flow naturally.

Seating Options:

If you’re choosing to have a seated conversation, have a think about your positioning and body language. Often having two chairs directly facing each other can be more intimidating and make a conversation feel like an interview. Instead, try positioning the chairs at an angle, so that if the person you’re talking to doesn’t want to have direct eye contact all the time they can comfortably look away, but they know you’re still there to listen and support them.

Regular Eye Contact:

Your priority with a sensitive conversation is to listen – sometimes this is all it takes for someone to feel a little lighter. To ensure someone feels heard, make sure you make regular eye contact and give non-verbal cues to show that you’re following what they say. These small gestures can make a big difference to help people open up.

Relay The Message:

It’s really important to check that you’ve understood what someone has shared with you when it comes to their mental health. You could try using the format below:

When _, you feel _ and find it difficult to ____ – have I understood this properly? Is there anything else you’d add?

Keep In Contact:

Let them know that you are, and will be, there for them and are willing to talk and support when necessary. It’s also important to remember that you are not a mental health professional, so encourage them to seek professional support where necessary. You can find plenty of signposting support in our Wellness Library, simply search ‘signposting’ for all the tools you need.