Time to Talk Day 2026
Time to Talk Day will take place on Thursday 5 February. Get everything you need here to get involved.
Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. Taking place on Thursday 5 February 2026, it is a day that friends, families, communities, and workplaces come together to to challenge stigma.
For 2026, we’re doing things a little different in Scotland. Until now, the campaign has encouraged people to talk about mental health and to reach out for support.
It’s a good message – after all, freedom to speak openly about your mental health can be empowering and can help create supportive conversations.
But what if talking isn’t safe?
When you live with a mental health problem or illness, open conversations might not be possible because you know what the consequences could be. Like losing a job, being made to feel ‘less than’, being treated differently by co-workers, or being excluded from everyday opportunities.
Mental health stigma and discrimination can make open conversations unsafe because of these harmful consequences.
People often tell us, too, that the stigma they experience around their mental health is made worse by other forms of discrimination like racism, transphobia, misogyny and classism.
That’s why this year’s theme in Scotland is “making places stigma free for everyone”.
We’re asking communities, schools, workplaces, and healthcare providers and leaders to recognise the different ways that mental health stigma is experienced by people – and to make change happen.
Join the campaign for 2026 and help us create a fairer and more inclusive Scotland free from mental health stigma and discrimination.
Use our free resources to get involved.
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About Time to Talk Day
Time to Talk Day is run in Scotland by See Me, with SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health), and by Mind in England.
For this year's campaign, we're encouraging action on mental health stigma.
Time to Talk Day 2026 is about making spaces stigma free for everyone:
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Taking place on Thursday 5 February 2026, it’s the day that we can all come together to take positive action on stigma so that people can feel safe to reach out if they wish.
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We’re asking communities, schools, workplaces and healthcare providers to join the campaign to end mental health stigma and discrimination.
People often tell us the stigma they experience around their mental health is made worse by other forms of discrimination like racism, transphobia, misogyny and classism.
So we're asking communities, schools, workplaces and healthcare providers the to think critically about how mental health stigma impacts people in different ways.
And we’re asking those who have the power to be changemakers to join in our vision to make Scotland a fairer and more inclusive place free from mental health stigma and discrimination.
Join us and help us make places stigma free for everyone this Time to Talk Day.
Talking about mental health
Not everyone feels safe talking about their mental health. But when supportive conversations do happen, it can be an important step in someone's journey. Use our talking tips here.
Supporting someone else
1. Ask questions and listen
Asking questions can give the person space to express how they’re feeling and what they’re going through. Try to ask questions that are open and non-judgmental, like: “What does that feel like?”
2. Use positive body language and encourage them
Small verbal comments like ‘I see’ or ‘what happened next?’ will let them know you are paying attention to them and actively listening.
3. Don't try and fix it
Try to resist the urge to offer quick fixes to what someone is going through. Just talking can be really powerful, so unless they’ve asked for advice directly, it might be best just to listen.
4. Dispel any myths and avoid clichés
Mental health problems are more common than people think and can affect anyone at any time. Comments like, “Pull yourself together,” or, “You’re just having a bad day,” are not helpful. Think before you speak.
5. Be patient
No matter how hard you try, some people might not be ready to talk about what they’re going through. That’s okay – the fact that you’ve tried to talk to them about it may make it easier for them to open up another time.
Sharing your own feelings
1. Find a way that feels right for you
Think about how you want to talk about your mental health. This could be a face-to-face conversation, or you might find it easier to talk on the phone or even write down how you feel.
2. Find a suitable time and place
Sometimes it’s easier to talk side-by-side, rather than face-to-face. You might want to chat while you are doing something else, like walking or cooking. However, don’t let the search for the perfect place put you off.
3. Practice what you want to say
You could do this in your head or make some notes. Phrases like, “I’ve not been feeling like myself lately,” might provide a starting point.
4. Be honest and open
It can sometimes feel uncomfortable sharing something so personal, but explaining how your feelings are affecting your life may help others to understand.
5. Suggest things they could do to help
This might just be listening and offering emotional support or there may be practical help you need.
Getting help
If you need support, or you’re looking to find out more about supporting someone close to you, help is available.
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