Cornwall urged to open-up for Time to Talk Day
Leaders at Cornwall’s NHS talking therapies service are reminding local communities to reach out and make time for conversations about mental health, as Time to Talk Day approaches this week - Thursday 2 February.
Time to Talk Day takes place every year on 2 February and is all about creating supportive communities by having conversations with family, friends, or colleagues about mental health.
James Ward, Clinical Lead for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Talking Therapies, said: “We all have mental health that needs taking care of, like we do our physical health. Any day is a good time to be talking about it and identifying ways we can support ourselves and each other. But Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. It's a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives. The more conversations we have about mental health, the better life is for everyone.”
The plea for people to talk about mental health comes swiftly off the back of our recent announcement of a new digital partnership which will see people aged 16 and above given free access to an online peer-to-peer mental health support community, called Togetherall.
Anyone with a postcode in Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly can now create an anonymous account with Togetherall, allowing them to connect with and support others in a safe online space 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The digital community is moderated round-the-clock by licensed and registered mental health practitioners.
Dr Richard Sharpe, Public Health Consultant at Cornwall Council specialising in mental health, added: "There are lots of ways people can talk about mental health. Sometimes opening up to someone we trust can make a world of difference. Other times we need more independent professional support. Our local mental health crisis line is available 24/7 and there are lots of excellent listening services, such as the Samaritans. There’s also the talking therapy service, where people can self-refer for help with difficulties like low mood, stress and anxiety."
People can register for Togetherall anonymously using their postcode, email address and date of birth. Self-referrals for talking therapies can also be made via an online self-referral form. Alternatively, anyone in a mental health crisis can call Cornwall’s Mental Health Connect line on 0800 038 5300. Or visit Cornwall Council's mental health pages for a range of mental health resources.