Time to Talk Day 2024 falls on Thursday 1 February 2024. Described as the nation’s ‘Biggest Mental Health Conversation’, Time to Talk Day celebrates the power of conversation to help change lives.
What is Time to Talk Day 2024 all about?
Talking about mental health isn’t always easy, but it’s most definitely worth it. Every conversation matters and has the power to change lives. Our workplace mental health workshops are packed with tools and advice to help have meaningful conversations around mental health. So, on Time to Talk Day 2024, we thought it might be helpful to share some of these with you.
Tips for Talking about Mental Health
- Choose your time and place. There’s no ‘perfect’ time to initiate a mental health conversation. However, many people find it a lot less confrontational to talk whilst side by side. This might be chatting whilst going for a walk or sitting side by side in the car.
- Listen patiently and non-judgementally. Most people who are struggling desire empathy more than an answer, so don’t worry if you don’t know what to say – listening to them and showing sympathy can go a long way.
- Don’t feel the need to be a ‘fixer’. We all want to help, so it’s understandable if you want to offer fixes and solutions. However, try to resist the urge to offer lots of solutions. At this stage, just listening and allowing the other person to talk is the most helpful thing you can do.
Introducing Conversational Narcissism (and how to avoid it)
This Time to Talk Day 2024, can we call it a day on conversational narcissism? Although it may be well-meaning, by telling someone ‘I know exactly how you feel’, you’re steering the focus away from someone who probably just wants to be heard. Sociologist Charles Derber describes this tendency as “conversational narcissism.”
Often subtle and unconscious, it’s the desire to take over a conversation, to do most of the talking, and to turn the focus of the exchange to yourself.
He describes two kinds of responses in conversations: a shift response and a support response. So, the first shifts attention back to yourself, and the second supports the other person’s comment.
Example: The SHIFT response
Debs: “I’m so busy right now.”
Jen: “Me, too. I’m totally overwhelmed.”
Example: The SUPPORT response
Debs: “I’m so busy right now.”
Jen: “Oh that sounds tough. What do you have to get done?”
Shift responses are a hallmark of conversational narcissism — they help you turn the focus constantly back to yourself. But a support response encourages the other person to continue their story. It lets them know you’re listening and interested in hearing more.
📽 Take 2 minutes to watch this Dr Brené Brown animation on empathy and the power of vulnerability
If you have time to do one small thing to mark Time to Talk Day 2024, watch this this beautifully animated video. In it, Dr Brené Brown reminds us that we can only create a genuine empathic connection if we are brave enough to really get in touch with our own fragilities. Watch it here.
To find out more about our Stretching the City can support your workplace on Time to Talk Day 2024, see our Time to Talk Day workshop here. And browse our other Mental Health at Work offerings here.
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