Time to Talk Day is part of Time to Change’s growing social movement and is working to change the way people think and act about mental health problems. 

Mental health problems affect one in four people, yet people are still afraid to talk about it.

The aim is to get the nation talking on Thursday 4 February 2021 and encourages players, coaches, fans and the local community to talk about mental health on Time to Talk Day. 

This year’s event might look a little different, but at times like this open conversations about mental health are more important than ever. Having conversations about mental health helps break down stereotypes, improve relationships, aid recovery and take the stigma out of something that affects us all.

We know that the more conversations we have, the more myths we can bust and barriers we can break down, helping to end the isolation, shame and worthlessness that too many of us with mental health problems are made to feel.

There are lots of different ways to have a conversation about mental health and you don’t have to be an expert to talk. However you do it, make sure you have a conversation about mental health this Time to Talk Day.

We at Sussex County FA have been doing our own bit for mental health awareness with our staff recently taking part in RED January. RED January is a challenge to get you active for every day in January to improve your mental health during what can be a difficult month for people.

Our CEO, Ken Benham, had this to say: "What I found out is that I need to make more time during my days to exercise more though, whether that be walking or some other exercise taking into account my health condition."

Victoria Windslow, our Executive Administrator, added: "RED January gave me the motivation to walk further than I have been and I set myself the target to walk 10,000 steps every day. I only had 3 days when I didn’t meet my target and still managed to take just over 350,000 steps during the month. I definitely felt it helped improve my mental health and I’m determined to keep to the 10,000 steps a day going."

90% of staff said that RED January improved their overall mental health and our Football Development Lead, Jade Harker, is happy with how it's brought our staff together: "At the start of the month I was so focused on this being all about me, what will I do, when will I do it etc then as the month went on and I read what other staff members had got up to.

"It motivated me to also get active on the days I didn’t feel like it. This is when I started thinking more about others. I wanted to do my exercise so that I could encourage others to do theirs too. I really enjoyed the comradery between staff members."

Our Project Manager, Paul Saunders, is also happy with the positive impact it has had on him: "I embarked on an outdoor activity on 30 days during RED January, with the most enjoyable playing basketball with my four year old grandson and seeing him score a basket in 10ft high hoop.

"Whilst I cannot claim my fitness levels have improved, RED January certainly provided me with time to reflect on the past year and plan for the next."

For further information on Time to Talk Day please contact: 

Time to Change
T: 020 8215 2356
E: info@time-to-change.org.uk