Today, Thursday 1st February 2024, Step Up joins the UK’s biggest mental health conversation, Time to Talk Day. Taking place each year, it’s a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives.
Talking about mental health isn’t always easy and sometimes it’s even harder to say how you really feel. But a conversation has the power to change lives. Time to Talk Day aims to break down the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage open, honest dialogue about the challenges we all face.
Mental health struggles affect one in four people in the UK, and the impact can be profound. From anxiety and depression to stress and grief, these challenges touch every aspect of our lives, from our relationships to our work and sense of self.
That’s why Time to Talk Day is so important, by simply talking about mental health we can break down the barriers of silence and shame, creating a space for open communication and support.
As part of the Time to Talk campaign, Step Up are hosting an informal ‘Cuppa & Chat’, where we are encouraging our team to join us for roll and a muffin, and take half an hour at the start of their shift to have chat with their colleagues about anything non-work related!
Topics are not limited to mental health, we hope our staff take the opportunity to share with the team their personal wins, what’s going well for them, and things they are excited about… even if it’s just what they’re watching on the telly!
At Step Up, we recognise the invaluable contributions that our staff make to the work that we do, giving their time and effort to make a positive difference to the lives of the young people that we support. By taking part in Time to Talk Day, we hope to continue to build a safe and friendly work environment for our team, who are central to everything that we do.
Additional Resources
If you, or anyone that you know, is struggling with their mental health, the following resources from helpful:
- Self-help & Wellbeing: Wellbeing Assessment Tool
- Helping someone else – Mind
- Finding Help – SAMH
- Support for Young People – YoungMinds
Step Up employees can access a free Employee Counselling Helpline available 24/7.
