Time to Talk Day – what you need to know

Today is Time to Talk Day, which is run by the mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. It seeks to encourage people to talk about their mental health struggles, challenges and feelings with their friends and families.

While people from all backgrounds and walks of life will have struggles with their mental wellbeing, children and young people in foster care are particularly at risk of developing such problems due to their backgrounds prior to entering care. They are also more likely to experience conditions such as anxiety and depression on a long-term basis than their non-care experienced peers.

Here’s what to know from Beacon Fostering about Time to Talk Day.

History

Time to Change, a campaign to end the stigmas of mental health, launched the day in 2014. It has since expanded beyond the UK to become a global event, encouraging people from all over the world to talk about their mental health and share their true feelings.

Events and ways to get involved

There are many things you can do as part of Time to Talk Day, either in private or in public.

As a foster parent, you can check in with your foster children and encourage them to discuss their feelings with you. You can even check if your child or children’s school(s) will be running any events to raise awareness and money for mental health charities, and if you have another job alongside fostering, you could put up posters or run a charity lunch.

Mind’s website has resources available if you want to take part in any of these activities.