Today is Time to Talk day 2023. To mark this day, Steph, who works in Mentally Healthy Leeds and as an Anti-Stigma Champion, has put together the following blog.
Time to Talk Day began in 2011, when the then Time to Change launched a four-week television advertising campaign to promote its new slogan: “It’s Time to Talk. It’s Time to Change.” The campaign was fronted by a number of celebrities, including political strategist Alastair Campbell, presenter Davina McCall, singer Frankie Sandford, and boxer Ricky Hatton.
The Time to Change social movement created Time to Talk Day to break the stigma surrounding mental health, thereby encouraging people to feel more able to talk about and share their own mental health journeys.
Mentally Healthy Leeds and the Anti Stigma champions within the team have a long history of over five years of anti-stigma work throughout Leeds. The partnership has become a national leader in continuing the campaign, with recognition on social media, local and national TV and radio. We’ve had conversations with all communities at all levels to break down the stigma and discrimination of mental health in our society. We have also facilitated a variety of events and worked with leading partnerships in the city, including Leeds City Council and Public Health, to combat the stigma in mental health.
As part of our work this year, the Anti-Stigma Champions are running a Living Library event today (Thursday 2nd February) at St Cyprian’s with St James’s Church Hall, Harehills from 11am until 3pm. The Living Library is a great way to embrace this extremely valuable campaign. The event will include the Living Library books, tombola and refreshments. All are welcome to come along!
No-one will leave empty handed but instead, the aim is that each of you will feel empowered to engage in conversations from today onwards, by sharing your stories of your own mental health journeys. Let’s continue to break down the stigma in mental health and get the support we need at the right time.
