Time to Talk Day, the nation’s biggest mental health conversation, is taking place on Thursday 1st February and Martin Whitfield MSP is urging people to get involved.

Organised in Scotland by See Me, in partnership with Co-op, it is a day that friends, families, communities, and workplaces can come together to talk, listen and change lives.

For this year’s Time to Talk Day, the organisers are encouraging the people of Scotland to have more honest conversations about how we are feeling to help combat the stigma that still exists around mental health.

The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘what I really mean’, highlighting that the words we say do not always reflect what’s going on beneath the surface.

Speaking about his support for the day, Martin Whitfield MSP said: 

“While there has undoubtedly been progress in reducing stigma around discussing mental health, many barriers still remain, especially for certain groups.

“Time to Talk Day is a welcome opportunity for everyone to help combat the stigma by initiating or joining a conversation about mental health and how they are feeling.

“I’m urging local people to get involved in Time to Talk this year by having an important conversation about mental health with someone in their lives.

“A range of print and digital resources are available on See Me’s website to help organisations and individuals make the most of the day, so take a look now and get ready for 1st February.”

You can find materials, tips for talking and ideas on how to get involved on See Me’s website at  www.seemescotland.org/seeus/campaigns/time-to-talk/time-to-talk-day-2024.

Anyone struggling with their mental health can find lots of information online at www.seemescotland.org/urgent-help.