Time to Talk Day | News and events

The leading local mental health charity, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire (CPSL) Mind has released a new campaign video on Time To Talk Day, Thursday 6^th February 2025.

The video highlights the importance of starting a conversation and acts as a reminder that we should check in on how someone is feeling. It also shows how active listening plays a crucial role in supporting someone.

The charity says that conversations about mental health can take place in a setting that feels comfortable to you. So, whether that’s at home, on a walk in the park, at a community mental health café or, as the video depicts, in your local gym. The video encourages viewers not to put off having conversations because the impact might be lifesaving.

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. Time to Talk Day is run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, in partnership with Co-op and delivered by See Me with SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health), Inspire and Time to Change Wales. 

CPSL Mind wants everyone to feel comfortable talking about mental health.

Ashley Bunn, Chief Executive of CPSL Mind, said, “Just being there for someone can make such a huge difference and we hope our campaign video shows how one conversation in a setting that feels right to you, can have such a positive impact on someone who may be experiencing mental health challenges. Today, we stand alongside our local minds and national mental health charities to encourage Britian to get talking about mental health.

“I would like to thank The Masked Monster and Liam who continue to support CPSL Mind through fundraising and raising awareness of our vital services. We couldn’t do what we do without the support of local people and businesses like Liam and The Masked Monster. If you, or your business, are interested in supporting CPSL Mind, do get in touch today. Fundraising and awareness campaigns help us to support, develop, and grow our services.”

Ashley Bunn concludes, “We will continue to work hard to end stigma associated with mental health and, as our video shows, we will continue to empower individuals in our community to share their stories, in their own way.”

 Dr Emma Tiffin, GP and NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Clinical Mental Health Lead, said, “Time to Talk Day is a really great opportunity to make the time to speak to someone about mental health. You don’t have to be an expert to help someone talk about their mental health, just giving them the time and the space to share how they are feeling might give them the support they need.

Adding, “If you need to speak to someone about your mental health, the first step might seem impossible, but you don’t need to struggle on your own. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness or failure, we all need help sometimes.” 

 The Masked Monster, who runs Muscle & Mind Fitness in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, and Liam Baker, from Together We Lift in Sawtry, featured in the video and reflected on when they have experienced mental health challenges. Both gym owners said that opening up and talking to people about their mental health is what helped them.

In the video, The Masked Monster said, “My darkest times were when I was self-harming regularly and I had a lot of suicidal thoughts. I didn’t want to leave my house, and I was isolated from the world. I had two friends at the time that really supported me and almost dragged me out of the house to go to the gym. It wasn’t so much about going to the gym, it was giving me the opportunity to open up and talk to people if I wanted to.”

Liam said that he “closed away for so long” but when he did open up, he noticed that people didn’t run away, and they stayed around to help.

The Masked Monster said he would prefer that ‘his pals cried on his shoulder’ rather than him ‘carrying his pals at their funeral the next week’ – he meant that it’s so important to deal with the challenges now and not wait until it’s too late.

The video raises awareness of how vital local mental health services are in supporting people in Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, and South Lincolnshire who are facing mental health challenges. During 2023/2024, CPSL Mind supported 6,000 local people and the need for support has never been greater, with 1 in 4 of us said to experience mental health challenges in any given year.

Imogen* is one of those people who has benefited from attending a CPSL Mind service. “I found out about CPSL Mind’s Good Mood Cafes, and I’ve been going for almost a year now, she says. “It feels amazing to have so much support. I don’t think I’ve ever had this much support. I enjoy it all. It was such a laugh the other week at the Good Mood Cafe, I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in all my life.”

Imogen encourages other people to come along and experience it for themselves, “If people want to come along to the Good Mood cafes, come! There are people there who can help you, people at CPSL Mind can open doors to help you and point you in the right direction for support.”

CPSL Mind runs a number of local services, such as its Good Life Service that includes peer support groups, Good Mood Cafes and Calm Spaces. The charity also has a dedicated perinatal service for new parents and its Sanctuary referral service provides a safe space for people experiencing a mental health crisis.

If you are experiencing an emotional or mental health crisis, there are people who can help you. Call the NHS First Response Service on 111 and select the mental health option.

There is also support available from other organisations:

Samaritans are a UK-wide free to phone service. Call 116 123

24 hours a day, every day.

Launched by NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and in partnership with the national service SHOUT, the free to use text service HEAR 85258 provides real-time support to people of all ages who are struggling with their mental health.

When texting the word HEAR to 85258, the person will be connected to a mental health clinician who will take them from a place of crisis to a place of calm.

For more information about CPSL Mind and its services, visit: www.cpslmind.org.uk