Essex County FA support ‘Time to Talk’ Day

Would you rather do 1,000 burpees or talk to your teammate about mental health? The Essex County FA are supporting ‘Time to Talk’ Day on Thursday 6th February and encouraging members to choose to talk about mental wellbeing.

Research has shown it benefits individuals to talk about mental health, and that one in four people experience a problem in any given year, so it’s important that conversations are started. Time to Talk Day is run by social movement Time to Change, England’s biggest programme to challenge mental health stigma and discrimination. It’s run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.

They’re using the popular conversation game ‘would you rather?’ to get everyone thinking and talking about mental health. By choosing to talk, individuals can help change lives. They’re aiming to help spread the word that anyone can talk about mental health anywhere, anytime.

Find out more about how you can help tackle mental health stigma and discrimination at www.time-to-change.org.uk. Mind also offer a range of resources and engagement opportunities for sports organisations who want to do more at www.mind.org.uk/sport.

Signposts to Support

Choosing to talk can make a real difference to someone’s life. But sometimes these conversations can bring up some difficult things that people may not have spoken about before. This might mean that they need some support.

There are plenty of groups who can provide individual support, guidance or advice. Below you’ll find a list of organisations who can help you, or someone else:

Mind Infoline (Telephone: [0300] 123 3393 – 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday to Friday. E-Mail: [email protected]. Text: 86463. Website: www.mind.org.uk/help/advice_lines): With support and understanding, Mind enables people to make informed choices. The Infoline gives information on types of mental health problems, where to get help, drug treatments, alternative therapies and advocacy. Mind also has a network of nearly 200 local Mind associations providing services.

Rethink Mental Illness Advice Line (Telephone: [0300] 5000 927 – 9:30am-4:00pm, Monday to Friday. E-Mail: [email protected]. Website: www.rethink.org/about-us/our-mental-health-advice): Provides expert advice and information to people with mental health problems and those who care for them, as well as giving help to health professionals, employers and staff. They also run services and groups across England and Northern Ireland.

Elefriends (Website: www.elefriends.org.uk): Elefriends is a supportive online community run by Mind where you can be yourself.

Samaritans (Telephone: 116 123 – 24 hours a day, free to call. E-Mail: [email protected]. Website: www.samaritans.org): Provides confidential, non-judgmental emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide. You can phone, E-Mail, write a letter or, in most cases, talk to someone face to face.

SANEline (Telephone: [0300] 304 7000 – 4:30-10:30pm, every day. Website: www.sane.org.uk/what_we_do/support/helpline): A national out-of-hours helpline offering emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by a mental health problem, including family, friends and carers.