Why talking about mental health is so important

The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is loneliness, and at TALKWORKS, we’re making it our mission to ensure that anyone who feels isolated or alone has access to the support that they need to help improve their wellbeing.

If you are feeling lonely, please know that you are not alone. One of the first steps to getting help can be through reaching out to someone you feel close or comfortable with, and talking about what’s going on. While this can initially be daunting, it can make a real difference to your mental health and wellbeing.

What is the value of opening up to someone?

As the saying goes, “A problem shared is a problem halved”. Some may call this a cliché, others might say it’s wise. There are lots of known sayings that teach us, from a young age, about the importance of talking. Opening up about how we are feeling can often benefit both parties. By sharing our experiences of what we are going through, we can feel less alone. This can then in turn give the other person permission to do the same. These conversations can often result in an exploration of shared experiences, which can help you to feel less alone.

“How are you?” can be a question where we often respond with the stock answer of “I’m fine” or “good thanks” - not necessarily the most honest answer. Recently my Grandad passed away, and when we all met as a family, we asked how each other were. We replied “fine”, even though really that was not how we were feeling at all. Hopefully the stigma of talking about mental health is reducing and we are all becoming more open as a society.

There are lots of people different people you can reach out to when you are finding things hard. Confiding in someone you are close to like a friend or family member, can help ease the burden you may be carrying. If you are experiencing work-related stress, speaking to a trusted Manager can help with more practical support. Alternatively, you may prefer confide in someone external, in which case reaching out to a talking therapy service like TALKWORKS may be of benefit.

What support can TALKWORKS offer?

Opening up to someone confidentially about what you are going through can make you feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. If you are not used to opening up, it might feel slightly unnatural at first, but the more you do it the easier it will become. Here at TALKWORKS, our therapists will never judge you, and will provide a safe space for you to open up about what challenges you are experiencing. They will then work with you to formulate a plan to help you feel more like yourself again and get back on track.

TALKWORKS offers a variety of treatment options, including one-to-one appointments with a therapist, group therapy sessions and online self-help support. There are also free online wellbeing workshops which you can attend, focused around managing stress, improving sleep, and boosting your mental health and wellbeing. As part of the NHS, all treatment and support is available free of charge. You don’t need to see a GP or healthcare professional before accessing our services, you can simply self-refer via our online form, or by calling us on 0300 555 3344.

The sooner you take the first steps to getting help, the sooner you’ll be able to start feeling more like yourself again. Please don’t go through this on your own – take the first steps and get help today.