Why does talking about mental health still matter?
by Marion Hewitt | 26 May 2026
What difference can one supportive conversation really make? Why do we hesitate in talking about mental health, even when we care?
Talking about mental health matters to me because I learnt a lot about poor mental health through routes I would rather not have taken. Through my own experience of poor mental health, and through supporting people close to me during some very challenging experiences of mental illness, I came to understand its impact in a much deeper way. I do not think I was particularly unaware before, but I had certainly never fully recognised the extent to which poor mental health can affect everyday life, often in ways that are hidden and not visible externally.
We know that mental health difficulties affect people across every part of society, and we also know that services are often stretched, workplaces are under pressure, and many people are carrying more than others realise. Against that backdrop, it can be easy to miss how important it is to ask someone how they are, and to really want to know the answer. Talking about mental health matters because it can be the first step towards someone feeling less alone.
One of my mantras when training is, “never underestimate the power of a supportive conversation.”
The power of conversations
A supportive conversation does not remove all the difficulties someone is facing, replace professional help, or solve systemic problems, but it can reduce isolation. It can help someone feel less alone in their difficulty, and it may be the moment when someone feels able to say, perhaps for the first time, “Actually, I’m not okay.” Although mental health is now talked about far more openly than it was, many people still worry about being judged, misunderstood or treated differently if they speak honestly. Sadly, the stigma surrounding poor mental health persists. In some workplaces, there may still be concerns about being seen as less capable or less resilient, and the data suggests there is still some validity to these concerns. In families and communities, people may have learnt to keep going, minimise their distress, or say “I’m fine” because they do not want to burden anyone else. Talking about mental health more openly can help reduce stigma, but openness only becomes meaningful when people feel safe enough to be honest.
The scale of the issue is significant. Data published by NHS England in 2025, found that one in five adults in England, 20.2%, had a common mental health condition in the past week. That equates to an estimated 9.4 million adults. The same survey shows that common mental health conditions among 16 to 64 year olds have increased from 18.9% in 2014 to 22.6% in 2023/4, with the increase particularly marked among 16 to 24 year olds, rising from 14.6% in 2000 to 25.8% in 2023/4.
Behind those figures are individual lives being affected, with a wider impact on families, workplaces and society. This shows that mental health is not a marginal issue. It affects all areas of life, including work, learning, relationships and the activities of everyday living. Poor mental health can affect confidence, concentration, participation, connection and hope for the future. All of this shows why early, compassionate and informed support is so important.
Why talking about mental health can feel difficult
One of the challenges is that many people want to help, but they are unsure what to say. I often have people tell me that they worry they will make things worse, ask the wrong question, or open up a conversation they do not feel equipped to handle. This hesitation is understandable but it can also mean that people who are struggling are left alone at the very moment when connection could make a real difference.
Supportive conversations are not about having perfect words. They are absolutely not about diagnosing, advising, rescuing or taking responsibility for someone else’s wellbeing. Understanding this removes a lot of the pressure around starting a conversation. One reason talking about mental health can feel difficult is that many people worry about saying the wrong thing, but silence can also leave people feeling even more alone.
Supportive conversations are about listening properly, without judgement and without rushing to fix. Moving from a “fixing” and “solving” mindset to one of listening and signposting is often one of the most significant shifts for people. Supportive conversations are about creating enough space for someone to say what is really going on, and then helping them think about what support might be available. Sometimes that support may be professional help, people in their support network, community resources or practical next steps.
When someone is experiencing poor mental health, it may also reduce the resources they have available for identifying what would help and taking those steps. Again, this is where a conversation can help someone think through options and strategies at a time when doing that alone may feel too difficult.
How Mental Health First Aid supports conversations about mental health
This is where Mental Health First Aid has such an important role to play. I have been training Mental Health First Aiders for many years, and it is always rewarding to see their skills and confidence develop during the training. It is also powerful to meet people again during Refresher training and hear how they have put these skills to use to benefit those around them.
Mental Health First Aid training is not about becoming a counsellor, therapist or expert in mental illness. It is not about diagnosing someone or offering advice. Attendees are reminded of this throughout the course, because I believe it reduces the pressure of expectations we may put on ourselves. Instead, MHFA provides knowledge, structure and confidence for those early supportive conversations. It helps people recognise possible signs of poor mental health, approach someone sensitively, listen non-judgementally, encourage appropriate support and maintain safe boundaries. Mental Health First Aid gives people a practical framework for talking about mental health in a supportive, boundaried and non-judgemental way.
In workplaces, these skills can be particularly valuable because colleagues and managers may be among the first to notice that something has changed. Someone may seem withdrawn, unusually irritable, tearful, distracted, overwhelmed or simply not themselves. Without training, it can be tempting to avoid the conversation, either because we do not want to intrude or because we do not know what to do next. With training, people are more likely to respond calmly, compassionately and appropriately.
This does not mean that Mental Health First Aid is the whole answer to workplace wellbeing. It should not be used as a substitute for good work design, manageable workloads, psychological safety, supportive leadership, clear policies or access to professional support. Used well, however, it can form an important part of a wider and more coherent approach to sustainable wellbeing. It can help create cultures where people are more able to talk, listen and seek help before difficulties escalate.
From awareness to action
The same is true beyond the workplace. The skills involved in Mental Health First Aid are valuable communication skills as we listen without judgement, notice when someone may be struggling, responding with are valuable in our families, friendships and communities as well as in our professional lives. Talking about mental health is one way we can move from awareness to action and from good intentions to more confident and informed support.
Reducing mental health stigma is often spoken about as a societal goal and while this involves wider changes in services, workplaces, education, policy and culture, it is also built through everyday interactions which collectively have impact. It is built when someone does not dismiss a colleague who is struggling, when a friend asks again because “I’m fine” did not sound quite true, and when we learn to listen rather than trying to fix.
Together, we can make a real difference. Every supportive conversation has the potential to reduce stigma, increase connection and help someone take a step towards support.
My next Mental Health First Aid course is running on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June. If you would like to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to support others while maintaining appropriate boundaries, it would be great to work with you. The course is £330+VAT.
If you are already a MHFAider and your accreditation is due for renewal, I also have a Refresher course running on Tuesday 7 July. The course is £150+VAT.
To book either course, please use these links:
If you are interested in running a course for your organisation it would also be good to chat.
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Call 07980 513646 or send us an email marionhewitt@proteasolutions.co.uk