Most of us feel better when we’ve shared our feelings, spoken to a colleague or friend, sought an opinion or just got something off our chest. It can feel like a weight has been lifted and boost our mental health too. And yet, despite the benefits of conversation, many of us still don’t find the time to talk.
And that’s why Time to Talk Day on February 5th has become so important each year. It’s a national campaign, seeking to get everyone talking and benefitting mental health in the process. The objective is to see friends, families, colleagues and communities start having conversations, listening without judgement, and supporting one another.
In this article we’ll look at why talking is good for our mental health and how employers can help get conversations started in the workplace. We’ll also cover the other side of the conversation and something just as important – the ability to listen.
We don’t talk enough
Whether it’s the solitary use of our mobile devices, working in isolation or the fear of being rejected or ignored, many of us just aren’t as outgoing as we used to be. Many people may go through a day, or a week without speaking to another person. And while loneliness is something often associated with the elderly, younger people are increasingly reporting it too.
Research by The Mental Health Foundation found that young people (16-29) report the highest levels of loneliness, with around 33-40% experiencing it often or some of the time. Common causes include high social media use, lack of in-person meaningful connections, and mental health challenges. And Mental Health UK found that that one in five (20%) workers feel lonely at work on a typical working day.
Why talking is good for your mental health
The types of work we do, how and where we do it, the quality of management, relationships with colleagues and feelings of lack of connection – are all aspects of the workplace that might impact our mental health. And while talking may not solve all these issues, it can certainly help – while continuing silence may even make things worse. That’s why we need to be better at finding the time to talk.
Conversations can reduce the pressure many of us feel and help bring clarity to problems and the comfort of at least feeling heard and understood. And often employers and colleagues are only too pleased to help – but they can’t offer this help if those conversations don’t start. So, if talking really has the power to improve our mental health, how can we make it happen, and especially at work?
How to make conversations happen at work
People don’t need to be in the same room to talk, they just need to feel connected and part of something that values them for who they are. The pandemic showed us that remote working didn’t have to be a barrier to communication. The one challenge that applies to all of us is perhaps where the campaign name comes from. Finding the time – to talk.
So, what can employers do about this? Here are some ideas.
More regular face to face meetings: The obvious place to start. It’s about making that time, checking in with your remote team. No matter how busy, making this a priority will demonstrate how important conversation is as well as showing people they are valued. You don’t need to be a mental health expert to start the conversation with ‘How are you doing?’ or ‘How are things with you today?’ Both are friendly open questions that will help them to talk and perhaps open up a little if they feel comfortable.
Walk and talk: Get away from your desks and talk. Who says meetings have to take place around a table? Go and walk together as a team, have those side by side conversations, get out and socialise, build real relationships – not just reporting lines. Walking is good for health and wellbeing too – regardless of whether you talk about mental health or not.
Lunch and learn: Run a lunch and learn session to teach your colleagues more about mental health problems and how to support each other. If anyone in the organisation feels comfortable to share their own experiences, this can be a great way to bring the issue to life. You can theme it around Time to Talk – but why not keep the conversations going with other topics too. Make it a monthly activity.
How to master active listening
Being a good listener is such an important communication skill. Actively listening helps to encourage others to express themselves whilst also building trust. And one of the most significant impacts of good listening skills is being able to support colleagues with mental health issues.
Here are some techniques to do this:
Get them talking – so you can listen: To do this, use open-ended questions. Instead of questions with “yes” or “no” answers, use “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” “why,” or “how” to encourage detailed responses.
Give your full attention: Avoid multitasking during conversations, whether in person or on the phone. Show the speaker they are valued by focusing entirely on them.
Acknowledge and clarify: Use verbal affirmations like “I see” or “What happened next?” to show you’re engaged. Paraphrase or summarise what you’ve heard to confirm understanding and prevent misunderstandings.
Embrace comfortable silences: Allow for pauses in the conversation. This shows you’re processing what was said, not just thinking about your next response, and gives the other person space to elaborate.
Cordell Health have written a blog called ‘Why Listening Skills Make A More Supportive Workplace’ – why not give it a read for further tips on how to improve your listening skills.
In conclusion
Talking is good for our mental health and yet, many people still feel unable to speak openly about how they are feeling at work. Improving the dialogue requires employers to think creatively about how they can make real conversations a priority – so their people feel valued and connected to where they work. Ideas and good intentions are easy to have, but the key is finding the time to do this – both finding the time to talk, and the skills to listen.
More about Time to Talk Day
Time to Talk Day is led by major UK mental health organisations, including Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. They offer practical guidance, resources, and conversation starters to help organisations and individuals take part.
