It’s Time to Talk Day: Get your organisation talking about mental health

Did you know that in the UK, 1 in 6 working-age people experience symptoms associated with mental ill health at any one time?

When we’re trying to cope with mental health challenges, feeling connected and supported is really important. Yet 36% of adults never make space in their day to speak about their mental health, and only 13% of us feel comfortable discussing it at work, despite it being less of a taboo now than in the past.

The consequences of not talking are clear: just under a quarter of people say their mental health has worsened as a result of not speaking up.

That’s why initiatives like Time to Talk Day (6th February 2025) are so important.

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What is Time to Talk Day?

Time to Talk Day is an annual campaign led by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. Billed as the nation’s biggest mental health conversation, it’s a chance ‘for friends, families, communities and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives.’

Employers can play a key role in promoting awareness of mental health and breaking down the barriers that often stop people from opening up. But it’s clear from the stats that many workplaces could be doing more.

Getting involved with Time to Talk Day is a great opportunity for organisations to get their teams engaging with this vital topic and to reflect on how they can create a more positive and supportive mental health culture.

Why is talking about mental health so important in the workplace?

Talking about mental health in the workplace is hugely important, not least because work itself is a common factor affecting mental wellbeing—29% of those surveyed say work has impacted their mental health.

Given that people spend such a significant amount of time at work, employers are uniquely positioned to help promote awareness and normalise discussions around mental health. Through leading by example and providing employees with the knowledge and tools needed to engage in open, supportive conversations, organisations can create an environment where people feel more comfortable speaking up and asking for the help they need.

As poor mental health is a major cause of sickness absence and presenteeism, both of which can negatively impact on organisational performance and productivity, there’s a business case for addressing it, too.

How can you get your organisation talking about mental health?

There are lots of simple but impactful ways to get your organisation talking more about mental health:

• Start a conversation
Introduce regular individual and team check-ins with employees to ask how they’re feeling and if there’s anything they’re struggling with. Getting your teams involved with initiatives like Time to Talk Day can also be a great springboard for starting general conversations about mental health and wellbeing.

• Bring people together
Organising team-building activities or a weekly informal drop-in meeting where the focus isn’t on work can give colleagues a chance to bond and may help them feel less isolated and more comfortable opening up to others.

• Provide mental health training
Almost a third of people say having more knowledge and understanding around mental health would make it easier to talk about. So, consider providing your teams with training or resources to improve their awareness of common mental health issues and educate them on how to have effective conversations around mental wellbeing.

• Signpost support
Not everyone will want to talk to their colleagues or manager about their mental health. Regularly promoting and signposting any confidential support services or self-help resources that your organisation offers, such as mental health first aiders, Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) or wellbeing apps, will ensure they know where to access help if they need it.