Two thirds of people feel as though they have no one to talk to about their personal problems, a new poll shows.
A survey of 2,500 British adults found that 66% said they feel as though they have no one to talk to about topics such as mental health, money problems and relationships.
When asked why, the top reasons were never being able to find the right time, or the right place, according to the survey by the Time to Change project created by mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.
More than a third (36%) said they can never find the right time to have a conversation of that nature and 28% said they could never find the right place.
And of these almost a quarter (22.5%) of people said they had waited for a year to find the “perfect” opportunity to discuss problems.
The survey was released to mark Time to Change’s campaign to encourage people to talk about their mental health problems.
Time to Talk Day encourages people to talk more openly about mental health. The campaign has been backed by celebrities including Fearne Cotton and Stephen Fry.
Sue Baker, director of Time to Change, said: “People still think there is no right time or place to talk about mental health, that it’s something that should be whispered about in quiet corners.
“We all need to work hard to change and remove the barriers to talking.
“Conversations have the power to change lives, wherever they take place. So whether you’re at home, at work, in the cinema, or even in the car, Time to Talk Day is the perfect chance to be more open about mental health.”
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “Too many people still feel unable to talk about their mental health.
“Time to Talk Day is an important reminder of the power of conversation, and how by taking small steps to help others we can all make our own contribution to a better and more mentally resilient society.”
Useful websites and helplines:
- Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
- Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
- Get Connected is a free advice service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@getconnected.org.uk