This Time to Talk Day, we did something simple.
We went out into Brighton (in the pouring rain ) with mugs, teacakes, and conversation starters, and we got talking.
To mark Time to Talk Day, the UK’s annual moment to encourage open conversations about mental health, we designed UOK mugs especially for the day. Each mug was paired with a teacake (including gluten-free and vegan options- because we know and adore our partners).
Sometimes a small comfort helps make space for a bigger conversation.
Walking, talking, and showing up
We walked across the city, stopping in at places where conversations already happen and places where we hoped they might.
Our first stop was the Bridging Change drop-in for racialised minorties, where we met a member from the Lived Experience Action Group(LEAG), who wears many hats including that of a carer. Working with the LEAG reminds us how vital lived experience is in shaping support that actually helps.
When asked about opening up, they shared, “While supporting someone else, I have found that sharing my own experience with mental health helps. Even if the other person does not open up right away, sometimes they come back after a while and share. If I’m vulnerable, it helps other be vulnerable.”
At Community Base, we left our gifts of mugs and teacakes in our partner post boxes, small gifts for our many partners that work from there. From there, we visited Impact Initiatives and Allsorts, making sure they also received our translated leaflets, so support and information could reach more people, in more languages.
We heard some lovely feedback along the way, especially about the simple prompts on our mints, which asked people to check in with each other by asking how their day had been.
Small questions can open doors.
Keeping conversations moving across the city
We stopped by Jubilee Library and Brighthelm Community Centre, spaces that hold so many people and stories. Our final stops took us to our partners YMCA Downslink Group. At the Isetta Square kitchen we could hear the hum of conversation drifting out. We left behind more mugs and teacakes, as little invitations to sit together, and talk.
Why Time to Talk Day matters
Time to Talk Day, run by Mind, is the UK’s biggest annual moment encouraging everyone to talk about mental health. It’s about reducing stigma by making mental health a normal part of everyday conversation, whether that’s checking in on a friend, sharing how you’re really doing, or simply listening without judgement.
What we learned
Going out, rather than asking people to come to us, reminded us that connection doesn’t have to be formal. A mug. A teacake. A question. A walk in the rain.
That’s what we did for Time to Talk Day; and that’s what UOK is about: making it easier to start conversations about mental health, so no one has to feel alone with what they’re carrying.
