Time To Talk Day 2021 - Conversation starting tips

York Mind gets behind the annual Time To Talk Day initiative every year - the theme for 2021 is 'The Power of Small'.

It’s an important and accessible reminder for everyone, regardless of their experience with mental ill-health, to have a go at starting small conversations that can make a big difference.

Here at York Mind, we know it’s more important than ever for people to be given a chance to open up. A third lockdown in Winter, physical health worries, furlough, job losses and the devastating loss of life in the last year due to COVID-19 – all these factors can add up to a breeding ground for poor mental health. And living as we are in times of restricted social interaction, we all have fewer opportunities to spot when others are having a particularly difficult time emotionally.

In this sense, Time To Talk Day 2021 comes at an absolutely vital moment in our history. It’s so important that we can all take the time to stop for a few minutes, and make an effort to reach out and connect with someone we know. At the very least, asking someone the question ‘How are you?’ can lift your mood and theirs; at the most, it may just be the catalyst for a conversation that’s needed to save their life.

Tips for starting small conversations

Small conversations can have a big impact. Why not check out our short guide to checking in with someone, using the acronym 'T.A.L.K':

Questions to ask someone in crisis

Whatever your experience, it can be hard to know what to say if you find yourself supporting someone who is going through a mental health crisis. We've popped together this short document with suggestions for questions you could ask, if you find yourself in this situation. It could really help turn things around for the other person:

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