Talking tips from the Devon Wellbeing Hub

Posted by Devon Partnership Trust in Mental health, News, Recovery and wellbeing on 31st January, 2024

Time to Talk Day (1 February) is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. Happening every year, it’s a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives.

If someone opens up about their mental health, it might not always feel easy to know how to respond; or perhaps you want to talk about how you're feeling, but don’t know how? At the Devon Wellbeing Hub, we have put together some of our top talking tips to get you started:

Don’t be afraid: Have the courage to reach out for support and ask for help. Most people will be flattered to be asked as it can be a privilege to feel trusted.
Find the right person: It’s great to talk, and saying things out loud helps you to clarify your thoughts, but it’s important you find the right person to talk to. Find someone you feel safe with, who cares about you and has time to listen.
Give your full attention: Make sure you find a space where you can talk and won’t be distracted. Turn your phone off and maintain eye contact (if the other person is comfortable with this).
Listen without giving advice: When someone opens up to you, you don’t need to have all the answers. Hold on to that urge to give advice or ‘fix’ it, and just listen. You may also want to ask questions to clarify what they’re saying and show you’re listening. The Samaritans have some great tips on how to be a good listener.

Our Psychotherapist Jody Merelle, and Clinical and Operational Lead, Christina Greenland, have shared their top tips in this short video:

You can find more talking tips on the Time to Talk Day website.

Get in touch:

If you, or someone you know is struggling, please get in touch with the Devon Wellbeing Hub for free, confidential support by calling 0300 303 5455, email dpt.devonwellbeing@nhs.net, or fill out the simple referral form on the Devon Wellbeing Hub website.

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Talking tips from the Devon Wellbeing Hub

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