New data released on Time to Talk Day (6 February) reveals the reluctance of people in Wales to talk about mental health, with young people disproportionately affected by the silence. A Censuswide poll of 1,000 people in Wales, conducted as part of the initiative led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness in partnership with Co-op, found that close to a third (29%) of respondents would rather avoid discussing their mental health than risk an ‘awkward’ conversation. Time to Talk Day aims to break this cycle by encouraging millions of conversations about mental health in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities nationwide.
The survey shows young people are the most likely to avoid conversations about their mental health, with two in five (40%) of 16-24-year-olds admitting to pushing people away, compared to just 8% of those over 75. Nearly half (48%) of young people say they would prefer not to talk about their mental health rather than risk an awkward conversation, compared to just 16% of 65-74 year olds.
Sadly, bottling things up is driving isolation; 30% said they have pushed friends and family away or that they have stopped socialising as a result of not talking about their mental health. And it’s making life more difficult. A quarter (24%) say not talking is causing them to struggle at school or work, rising to 41% of 16-24s and 26% say keeping quiet has made their mental health worse, highlighting the importance of being open.
Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. Taking place every year, it’s a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives. Not having conversations can have a negative impact on all aspects of life, including jobs, relationships, friendships and health.
Alex Harrison, 34, from Caerphilly, said: “I’ve lived with depression and anxiety for over a decade, but back in 2012, I didn’t know how to recognise or talk about it. I had been offered a university scholarship, but instead of celebrating, I was overwhelmed by self-doubt and felt like I didn’t deserve it. When my university team referred me to my personal tutor, I thought the conversation would be awkward, but it turned out to be life-changing. My tutor shared his own experiences with depression and said, ‘me too.’ For the first time, I felt seen and heard.
As I started my career, I struggled to open up about my mental health with my employer. In my search for guidance on how to approach the conversation with my line manager, I came across the Time to Change Wales campaign and the inspiring blogs shared by others who had spoken openly about mental health. Their stories gave me the courage to have that conversation with my manager. Although his initial reaction was not supportive, it only strengthened my determination to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health.
Since joining the Time to Change Wales campaign, I’ve shared my story through anti-stigma talks, supported exhibition stands, and even helped a previous employer develop their first mental health at work policy. These are things I never imagined I’d have the confidence to do. Starting a conversation about mental health truly changed my life, and I want others to know it can change theirs too. Opening up about your struggles takes courage, but it’s the first step towards finding support and embracing who you are.”
Lowri Wyn Jones, Programme Manager for Time to Change Wales, said: “The data revealed today shows a worrying picture, particularly amongst our younger generations. Silence might feel like the safest option at times, but bottling up mental health struggles only entrenches isolation and disconnect from those around us.
As this data reveals, the reluctance to have 'awkward' conversations about mental health is hurting us more than we think, which delays our ability to access support and recovery. Changing this starts with all of us, across workplaces and schools around the country. We all have a part to play to enable and to embrace conversations, not just for our own wellbeing but to build stronger, more connected communities where no one feels alone in their mental health struggles.”
This Time to Talk Day 2025, we are calling on people to get comfortable to talk and start a conversation, however small, about how they are really feeling. Time to Talk Day is run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness and is being delivered in partnership with Co-op for the fourth year running. Across the UK, it’s delivered by See Me with SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) in Scotland, Inspire in Northern Ireland and Time to Change Wales.
The partners are supporting communities across the UK to encourage mental health conversations by providing free resources, including tips on how to have the conversation, and running a UK-wide awareness campaign. This year will mark 10 years of Time to Talk Day.
For information about Time to Talk Day, including tips on starting the conversation, visit: https://www.timetochangewales.org.uk/en/campaigns/timetotalkday2025/
Join the conversation on social media using #TimeToTalk by visiting our social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.
For more information, background statistics, photos and interviews with anyone featured in this press release, please contact Hanna Yusuf at h.yusuf@timetochangewales.org.uk or call 02920105004.