Welcome to another mental health post from Carer Matthew Mckenzie. On the 4th of February 2016, it was National Time To Talk day, which was championed by Time To Change, which is England’s biggest programme to challenge mental health stigma and discrimination.

Time to Change are led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, they are also funded by the Department of Health, Comic Reflief and the Big Lottery Fund.

The thing with mental health is that people tend not to talk about mental health due to the stigma which can come from it. What I mean by stigma is that people might not be able to understand what mental health could mean, let alone someone suffering mental health problems.

Stigma can manifest in several ways.

• People being labelled as weak or strange if they are having mental health problems.
• People not having time for others or telling them to just see a doctor
• Being afraid to reach out to talk about our feelings
• Isolation caused by rejection of others or fear of rejection.

I thought as a twist, I would remind carers to talk to others, especially those caring for loved ones going through mental health problems also need to talk to others. Even if it is just to catch up with friends, relatives or other carers going through similar problems.

I have produced a video about Time To Talk day 2016, so feel free to watch it.

Its not just carers or those going through mental health problems.  Everyone needs to communicate and there should be no shame in talking about mental health.