‘Ask Twice’ this World Mental Health Day

Time to Change Greenwich is supporting World Mental Health Day

Too many people are made to feel ashamed or isolated because they have a mental health problem. Yet 1 in 4 of us will experience some type of mental health problem this year.

Time to Change is a national campaign run by charities Mind and Rethink that has been working for 10 years to fight this stigma and discrimination.

This World Mental Health Day, Wednesday 10^th October, we’re getting behind their ‘Ask Twice’ Campaign and are encouraging local residents to do the same.  The campaign is urging people to ‘Ask Twice’ if a friend or family member says they are ‘fine’ but they suspect they may be experiencing a mental health problem.

New research released by Time to Change reveals that when asked, over three quarters (78%) of us would tell friends, family and colleagues we are ‘fine’, even if we are struggling with our mental health.

When asked why, responses suggest we doubt whether people really want to hear the honest answer. The top concerns were:

• Just because people ask how you are, doesn’t mean they really want to know (54%)
• I don’t want to burden people (52%)
• I’d only talk if I was confident my friend or family member really wanted to listen (39%)

When asked ‘How are you?’ most of us say ‘I’m fine’, even when we’re not.

If you’re worried about how someone is, ‘ask twice’ to give them the opportunity to open up if they want to talk about their mental health. It’s a simple way to show that we care and we’re here to listen, whether that’s now or when they are ready.

Residents can encourage their friends, family and colleagues to open up to mental health by watching and sharing this short film. To find out more about ‘Ask Twice’ visit: www.time-to-change.org.uk/asktwice.

There will also be a Time to Change Greenwich stall in Woolwich library on World Mental Health Day, Wednesday 10^th October from 10am-2pm.

If you have lived experience of a mental health problem and want to get involved there are a number of ways, including becoming a Time to Change Champion in Greenwich.

For more information on protecting and supporting our mental health every day, and details of the mental health support services available in Greenwich, please visit www.livewellgreenwich.org.uk/mentalhealth.