Time to Talk Day is the nation's biggest mental health conversation, this year taking place on Thursday, February 2.

Charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness partner with the Co-op to deliver the campaign in England, and to mark this important opportunity to #GetDorsetTalking about mental health, Dorset Mind charity is hosting drop-in events at four key locations to connect the community and encourage people to talk openly.

Connecting and socialising with people in your community is essential to support your mental health and wellbeing. 'Connect' is one of the proven Five Ways to Wellbeing – and can help to lower feelings of stress and anxiety.

Mental health problems can affect anyone, at any time. We know that 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem in any given year. By talking about mental health - good and bad - we can start to bust myths and break down the barriers that stop people accessing support.

Dorset events on Time to Talk Day

Dorset Mind has partnered with two local charities and the Mind Shops in Dorset to host four local events on Time to Talk Day – the Mind retail stores in Winton and Christchurch; the Bournemouth Foodbank, run by The Trussell Trust; and also the Lantern Trust in Weymouth, an independent charity that also helps vulnerable and marginalised people.

Funded by National Mind, these community events seek to create connections with people who may be experiencing mental health challenges in their lives and are not sure where to turn. They aim to encourage talking, but are not a replacement for therapy or visiting you local GP.

All guests will be welcomed by Dorset Mind staff and volunteers with a warm cup of tea or coffee and offered information and signposting to relevant wellbeing services across Dorset as part of the conversation.

If you would like to speak to a friendly face, please join us at one of the locations and times listed below.

• 10am to 12pm - The Lantern Trust, Hope House, 2 Ranelagh Rd, Weymouth. DT4 7JD.
• 10am to 12pm - Christchurch Mind Shop, 21 High St, Christchurch. BH23 1AJ.
• 11am to 1pm - Bournemouth Foodbank, 118 Haviland Rd, Boscombe. BH7 6HW.
• 1pm to 3pm - Winton Mind Shop, 357 Wimborne Rd, Winton. Bournemouth. BH9 2AD

In Bridport, Co-op Member Pioneer Lesley Windsor has teamed up with Chapel in the Garden and their Warm Hub session in the White Room, from 11am to 1pm on Thusday, February 2, wher there will be games, newspapers, hot drinks and lunch. You can access this venue via the door on Rax Lane.

Linda O'Sullivan, CEO at Dorset Mind, said: "Time to Talk Day is a brilliant opportunity to help de-stigmatise mental health. It encourages people to talk, which as we know is the first step towards getting support.

"We want people to know they're not alone in how they may be feeling - and that it's okay to reach out to services for support, should they need them. On this day, as well as getting Dorset talking, we hope to strengthen our community connections as a local charity in Dorset."

Dr Andy Mayers, patron for Dorset Mind and principal academic at Bournemouth University, added: "It is so important that we talk openly about mental health. Public attitudes can often make it harder for people to speak about this, which makes it harder to find the support they really need. The power of conversation, every day, gives people the confidence that it is OK to talk about their mental health."

Play your part!

Time to Talk Day is a chance for all of us to be more open about mental health – to talk and to actively listen.

Why not text a friend, chat to a colleague, raise awareness in your community or share something on social media using #TimeToTalk? Don't forget to tag your local mental health charity, @dorsetmind.

Consider starting a mental health conversation using the following questions as an opener:

"I've got…on my mind, can we talk?"

"I've been feeling…can we talk?"

"How are you feeling – really feeling?

If you're finding things tough and need support, please reach out to the following organisations who can help you:

• Call the Samaritans FREE on 116 123, 24/7
• Speak to Dorset's mental health helpline 'Connection' on 0800 652 0190, 24/7 or NHS 111
• Call Mind for information and signposting on 0300 123 3393 (weekdays 9am to 6pm)

You can also visit Dorset Mind's website to see what 1-2-1 and group support they offer adults and young people across Dorset at: https://bit.ly/DMHelpandSupport

Co-op membership helps support Co-op's national charity partners and Local Community Fund causes.