Local community joined the conversation
Workplaces, schools and community groups across West Lothian joined the UK’s biggest conversation on mental health last Thursday (February 3) as part of Time to Talk Day.
Time to Talk Day is the day that friends, families, communities, and workplaces come together to talk, listen and change lives.
And research has shown that, two years into the coronavirus pandemic, these conversations are important.
Just over one in four (26 per cent) Scots surveyed who have experienced a worsening of their mental health for the first time during the pandemic have yet to have a conversation about it, according to a new poll conducted as part of Time to Talk Day.
The survey of 1001 people across Scotland also revealed that nearly one in five people (19 per cent) who were already struggling with a mental health problem when the pandemic hit said they haven’t spoken to anyone about their mental health since the pandemic started.
Forty-three percent of those whose mental health has worsened during the pandemic said they haven’t spoken to anyone because they felt like everyone has been struggling and they are no different, while almost one in three (31 per cent) said that they didn’t feel comfortable talking about their mental health.
This year’s day saw a range of activities and events take place across West Lothian, with workplaces, schools, community groups, sports clubs, friends and family doing their bit to start the conversation on mental health, with a focus on not just talking, but listening too.
See Me volunteers across Scotland were also supporting Time to Talk Day activity in their communities.
West Lothian’s Angela McCrimmon says opening up about her mental health was important for her.
Angela, who bipolar disorder, said: “A lot of my recovery and freedom came when I started to open up and be honest and realise that there is there is no shame in living with a mental illness. It’s part of who I am.
“My advice, when it comes to talking about your mental health, is not to be afraid of being honest. We need to help remove shame and stigma, so tell your story without fear of what others may think.”
Walking charity Paths for All arranged Health Walks across the country to get participants chatting about their mental health in the open air, while the Scottish Recovery Consortium hosted an online session for people to talk, share and listen to others’experiences and tips for managing mental health.
The Time to Talk Day poll, which surveyed people both with and without experience of mental health problems, also showed 44 percent of people reported worsening mental health since the pandemic began in March 2020.
Encouragingly, of those who had spoken about their mental health, 71 percent reported this had been a positive experience and 62 per cent agreed it is getting easier to talk.
The campaign is run in Scotland by See Me in partnership with Co-op.
See Me director, Wendy Halliday, said:“The figures show that there is still real stigma attached to opening up about how you’re feeling, and we want everyone to feel comfortable talking about mental health in a way that suits them. I’m incredibly impressed by all the support we had for this year’s Time to Talk Day across West Lothian and I’m sure the important conversations that took place will have a lasting impact.”
Rebecca Birkbeck, director of community and shared value at the Co-op, said:“It’s never been a more important time for us to be able to talk about how we are feeling. Our research has shown the vital role played by our communities in kickstarting these conversations, giving us the chance to open up whilst we are out and about.”
For more go to Time to Talk Day at seemescotland.org/SeeUs.