Britain Get Talking

Take a mate on a date and get talking!

This years ‘Britain Get Talking’ campaign is themed on ‘friendship’. Launching on World Friendship Day (31 July), the campaign so far has featured well known ITV/STV talent through the tv advert, clips across multiple programmes, celebrity shoutouts and more.

The campaign aims to encourage us to (econnect with friends old and new, as recent research found that one in three of us are seeing our close friends less than we used to. 

SAMH Chief Executive Billy Watson said: 

“We know that spending time with friends plays an important role in maintaining our wellbeing and that conversations about mental health can be life-changing.

“That’s why SAMH is pleased to continue supporting ‘Britain Get Talking’, which this year is calling on us to check in and reconnect with our friends.”

The campaign also offers tips on meeting new people, having meaningful conversations and lost cost ideas for ‘mate dates’.

Find out more here:

itv.com/britaingettalking/

stv.campaignformentalwellness.com

What's on our mind can be the hardest subject. So, what's on yours?

Talking is often the first step in helping ease stress and reduce anxiety. Yet we know that adults often shy away from speaking about children about things that might be worrying them, like climate change, or war.

The latest initiative from ITV and STV’s Britain Get Talking campaign focuses on helping children across the country to share what’s on their minds. Working directly with schools and child psychologists, as well as SAMH, Mind and YoungMinds, the campaign is setting a different kind of homework - for young people to have a proper chat with an adult they trust, on the hardest subject: what’s on their minds.

This powerful rallying cry comes at a time when we’ve never needed it more – a cost of living crisis, a pandemic, and troubling world events, has had a negative impact on our children’s mental health.

Top tips for having difficult conversations

1. Try having the conversation whilst doing another activity e.g. the washing up.

2. Start the conversation with open-ended questions like, ‘what’s on your mind today?’

3. Actively listen and leave room for them to speak. You don’t need to fix all their problems immediately.

4. Sometimes it helps to share personal stories or experiences to help put them at ease.

5. If they don’t want to talk, reassure them that the door is always open when they’re ready.

Get your school involved

This World Mental Health Day, 10 October 2023, STV’s Britain Get Talking is helping children across the country to open up. Together with teachers and clinical psychologists, we’ve created a piece of homework like no other. A conversation starter for children to take home, designed to help them talk about the hardest subjects on their minds with their parents or trusted adults. Because sharing worries can help ease stress and reduce anxiety.

Are you struggling with your mental health? You are not alone.

There are many services and organisations that can offer you support with mental ill health: