On Mental Health Day, Get Talking

By Samara Siviter, 19, Mental Health Correspondent, Jill Dando News

Since 2004, anxiety and depression has risen among children by an astronomical 48%.

In October 2019, ITV launched their rolling Britain Get Talking Campaign which is designed to encourage the nation to preserve both their mental and physical health as well as keeping each other connected – by enhancing the quality of conversations around a topic so pertinent and prevalent as mental health is today.

In 2022 itself, seven million people connected with others as a result of the initiative with continues to remain the most well known and popular mental health campaign within the country, a campaign which as CAMHS referrals begin to soar and celebrities begin to advocate for those in need, it’s becoming rapidly more evident that we need more than ever. 

If you are concerned about a loved one or family member yourself, here are three core tips you could potentially implement in order to open up this important conversation: 

1) Try to have the conversation whilst doing another activity i.e. washing up.

2) Sometimes it could help to share personal stories or experiences in order to help put the other party at ease.

3) But as much as you might have exhausted yourself and your efforts on an individual basis, if they don’t want to talk please reassure them that your door is always open whenever you are ready.

Furthermore, in relation to the bigger picture, Young Minds are hosting their annual fundraising event ‘Hello Yellow” today Tuesday (10th October) allowing us to stand up and show up for the numerous young people up and down the country who continue to suffer with their mental health.

The intention of the day itself is to create a sense of immediate unanimity by showing young people they’re not alone – by all wearing the same colour yellow, as well as continue to raise integral funds for this amazing charity and continue to support the incredible work I see them do first hand, especially within my position as an activist. 

So stand up and show up for the young people in your life, and show them that they’re not alone.

If you would like to find out more about Britain Get Talking please visit: https://www.itv.com/britaingettalking/

As for Hello Yellow and how you can make a difference: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/support-us/fundraising/helloyellow/