Why Talking About Mental Health Matters

We can all feel overwhelmed at times, and it can be tempting to keep your feelings to yourself or hide away when things feel tough. Exercise, eating well and trying to get enough sleep are all healthy ways of supporting your emotional wellbeing. However, one of the most powerful tools we have for managing our mental health is often overlooked: talking to others. 

Whoever you choose to speak to, this guide explores why it’s essential to open up about mental health, and how talking to others can help you manage your feelings and boost resilience.

Feeling Heard

Sharing your feelings and experiences with trusted friends, teachers, family members or a mental health professional can have a profound impact on your wellbeing. 

Talking to others is a chance to feel seen and heard. Afterwards, you may also feel that your experiences and emotions have been validated.

Sharing your feelings with someone who listens without judgment can be incredibly comforting. Knowing that you’re not alone in your struggles can give a sense of relief and provide a valuable connection with others.

Getting Fresh Perspectives

Discussing your thoughts with others can give you valuable insights and perspectives that you may not have thought of on your own. You may be able to look at the problem in a new or different way, or identify options or solutions that you haven’t previously considered. 

Often, friends and family can provide a fresh view or practical advice that helps us navigate a difficult situation more easily. Talking to someone older, or someone who has had a similar experience in the past, may also help you consider different options or see that a positive outcome and future is possible.

Whether you seek help from a trusted friend or a therapist offering professional guidance, seeking support from others can be immensely helpful for seeing a situation more clearly and finding ways to solve a problem. 

Strengthening Relationships

Talking about your mental health can strengthen your relationship with others and help you foster deeper connections with those around you. When we are open and honest about our feelings, it encourages other people to do the same. This can create an environment of trust and supportive vulnerability. 

Sharing your struggles and successes with others can deepen your bond with them, cultivating a sense of community that will boost your overall wellbeing.

Finding Light-Hearted Connections

Talking about mental health doesn’t always have to feel serious or heavy. There’s a reason why people often ask to be sent funny dog videos when they’re feeling down – laughter and connection are powerful antidotes to stress and anxiety. This means there’s a time and a place for sharing a funny story, meme or gif with friends, and finding fun or laughter in each day can lift your mood when you need it most.  

Breaking Down Stigma

Talking about our mental health helps to break down the outdated stigma around mental illness. For too long, mental health issues have been shrouded in secrecy and shame, leading many people to suffer in silence. 

By speaking openly about your feelings, you show others that it’s ok not to be ok, and that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Finding You Are Not Alone

Being brave and talking about your experience may help you see that you are not alone with your feelings. You may realise that there are others around you who have had similar experiences or feelings, and hearing you speak up may encourage them to do the same.

Releasing Built-Up Tension

Research at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has shown that putting your feelings into words can help you become less stressed about a situation over time. 

Bottling your feelings up can be very uncomfortable and distressing, and talking can help to release built-up tension. If you have held onto thoughts or upsetting information for a long time, you may find it all comes out in a complicated fashion, but this can help you gain new insight into the problem or worry you are facing. Releasing your thoughts can help to ease the pressure you feel inside.

Final Thoughts

Talking about mental health is essential for our wellbeing. Opening up about our struggles helps us start to manage our own emotions, and may also empower other people to start conversations about their own feelings. 

 Regardless of who you feel comfortable speaking to, talking and asking for help is an important step to realising that you are not alone, and your voice matters.