Time To Talk Day 2020

For Time to Talk Day, on 6th February, we’re choosing to talk about mental health.

Too often, mental health problems are treated as a taboo subject – something not to be talked about, especially at work. However, mental health affects us all and we should feel able to talk about it.

The more conversations we have, the more myths we can bust and barriers we can break down, helping to end the isolation that too many of us feel when experiencing a mental health problem.

One in four of us will experience a mental health problem, and 9 in 10 say they have faced negative treatment as a result. By choosing to be open about mental health, we are all part of a movement that’s changing the conversation and ensuring that no one is made to feel isolated or alone for having a mental health problem.

As a part of our ongoing commitment to this, we are delighted to have joined Mates in Mind, a registered charity that provides a framework to raise awareness, address the stigma of poor mental health. The charity provides clear information to UK employers on available support and guidance on mental health, as well as how they can address and improve this across their organisations.

Working with Mates in Mind helps us take an important step towards breaking the silence and stigma that can surround mental health. We are joining an ever-growing community of organisations supporting Mates in Mind, who are taking action to improve the mental health of their workforces.

We want our employees to feel they can be open about their mental health, and ask for support if they need it. Whilst we finalise our Mates in Mind calendar, we continue to provide an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which provides free and confidential advice and support for employees, 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

This provides advice and support on a wide range of issues including addiction, legal matters, mental health, family matters, relationship issues, state benefit information, coping with bereavement, landlord and tenant disputes, debt management and other financial issues.