- New research released on Time to Talk Day reveals more than a third of [1]people surveyed in the East Midlands ([2]38%) say they would prefer to not talk about their mental health rather than risk an awkward conversation.
- The silence around mental health is impacting our social lives. Almost four in ten[3] (34%) say they have pushed friends and family away or stopped socialising due to wanting to keep quiet about mental health concerns, with young people the most impacted.
- 18% say they have struggled at school or work because of not talking about their mental health.
New data released on Time to Talk Day (6 February) reveals the East Midlands’ reluctance to talk about mental health, with young people disproportionately affected by the silence. A Censuswide poll, conducted as part of the initiative led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness in partnership with Co-op, found that over a third (38%) of respondents would rather avoid discussing their mental health than risk an ‘awkward’ conversation. Time to Talk Day aims to break this cycle by encouraging millions of conversations about mental health in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities nationwide.
Sadly, bottling things up is driving isolation; 34% said they have pushed friends and family away or that they have stopped socialising as a result of not talking about their mental health. And it’s making life more difficult. Almost a fifth (18%) say not talking is causing them to struggle at school or work, and 24% say keeping quiet has made their mental health worse, highlighting the importance of being open.
Generally, the main reasons people give for not speaking about their mental health were fear of burdening others (22%), feeling like no one will truly understand (19%) and fear of being judged or labelled (18%).
Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. Taking place every year, it’s a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives. Not having conversations can have a negative impact on all aspects of life, including jobs, relationships, friendships and health. Mind, Rethink Mental Illness and Co-op are calling on people to get comfortable talking and start a conversation, however small, about how they are really feeling. Across the UK, Time to Talk Day is delivered by See Me with SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) in Scotland, Inspire in Northern Ireland and Time to Change Wales.
Rowan Jones, 18, from Northamptonshire, who uses the pronouns they/them, said: “When I first started experiencing mental health problems, talking about it made me feel so vulnerable. I worried I’d be rejected or hurt, left in more pain than I was already in.
“It was an isolating place to be. It meant I didn’t have opportunities to connect with people who felt the same. So, although my experiences weren’t uncommon, it felt like something was uniquely wrong with me.
“Mental health problems were such a big part of my life, so it felt like that’s all there was to me. It made it even harder to talk because it felt like I was exposing every part of myself. When I got older and realised there were other parts to me, I could start to separate my identity from my struggles.
“Slowly, it stopped being this big thing that felt incredibly difficult to speak about. Talking openly has helped me to accept that mental health is part of my life but see that there’s life beyond it.”
Dr Sarah Hughes, Chief Executive of Mind, said: “Talking about mental health isn’t always easy, and as a society, we still shy away from these conversations out of fear of being rejected. Our research shows this silence can have a real impact on our lives by creating barriers that push friends and family away, disrupt social lives, and make school or work more challenging.
“This Time to Talk Day, we have an opportunity to break this cycle. Small, everyday actions—like starting a conversation during a walk or a coffee break—can help foster understanding and create an environment where we feel comfortable to talk. Let’s lead by example, listen with empathy, and show that talking about mental health can make a real difference to individuals and our communities.”
Rebecca Birkbeck, Director of Community and Member Participation, Co-op, said “Mental wellbeing is central to building stronger, more resilient communities, and our member-owners have told us it’s an issue they care about deeply and 25,000 members have helped shape our partnership for 2025. The research shows that people across the UK don’t want to have conversations about their mental wellbeing as they worry it would be awkward. By working together, we can normalise talking about mental wellbeing and foster a culture where everyone feels supported and connected.”
Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said: “These findings are a reminder that while many people may feel awkward talking about mental health, not doing so can have far-reaching consequences. As our survey reveals, staying silent about our mental health is leading to isolation and impacting our lives at work and school, especially among young people. We know that speaking about mental health for the first time can feel challenging, and that many unhelpful thoughts might be preventing you from opening up. But we encourage people to find a place they feel comfortable this Time to Talk Day and start a conversation – you never know the positive difference it might make to you or to the other person.”
Lowri Wyn Jones, Programme Manager for Time to Change Wales, said: “The data revealed today shows a worrying picture, particularly amongst our younger generations. Silence might feel like the safest option at times, but bottling up mental health struggles only entrenches isolation and disconnect from those around us. As this data reveals, the reluctance to have ‘awkward’ conversations about mental health is hurting us more than we think, which delays our ability to access support and recovery. Changing this starts with all of us, across workplaces and schools around the country. We all have a part to play to enable and to embrace conversations, not just for our own wellbeing but to build stronger, more connected communities where no one feels alone in their mental health struggles.”
Wendy Halliday, See Me director, said: “Time to Talk Day has shown us that we are making real progress around mental health conversations across the country – but that awkwardness and reluctance to speak is still lingering. This year’s polling results show us that there’s still work to be done when it comes to tackling the stigma that still exists around mental health. The more we speak about mental health, the more comfortable these conversations will become, and more people will be able to ask for help when they need it. I would encourage everyone to take the time to day to check in with someone close to them and see how they’re doing – and make a commitment to keep that conversation going.”
Kerry Anthony MBE, CEO of Inspire, said: “We have come so far in our public conversations about mental health and this research shows we need to keep on talking about talking or risk rolling back to the times when these important conversations simply didn’t happen. There can be no doubt that having someone to talk to about your mental health is important and we are glad to see that 73.6% of people in Northern Ireland are comfortable talking about their mental wellbeing. Time To Talk Day is a perfect way for all of us to recommit to creating an open and supportive society where everyone is free to ask, listen and talk.”
Time to Talk Day 2025 is run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness and is being delivered in partnership with Co-op for the fourth year running. Across the UK, it’s delivered by See Me with SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) in Scotland, Inspire in Northern Ireland and Time to Change Wales. The partners are supporting communities across the UK to encourage mental health conversations by providing free resources, including tips on how to have the conversation, and running a UK-wide awareness campaign. This year will mark 10 years of Time to Talk Day.
Time to Talk Day 2025 is run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness and is being delivered in partnership with Co-op for the fourth year running. Across the UK, it’s delivered by See Me with SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) in Scotland, Inspire in Northern Ireland and Time to Change Wales. The partners are supporting communities across the UK to encourage mental health conversations by providing free resources, including tips on how to have the conversation, and running a UK-wide awareness campaign. This year will mark 10 years of Time to Talk Day.
For information about Time to Talk Day, including tips on starting the conversation, visit: timetotalkday.co.uk. Follow the conversation on social media #TimeToTalk.
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