Published on: 7 February 2020
Colleagues, service users, carers and partner groups got together to help Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust mark Time to Talk Day on 6 February 2020. 
Time to Talk Day is an annual event staged by charity Time to Change, as part of its campaign to end the stigma over mental health issues. As a leading provider of mental health care in Derbyshire, Derbyshire Healthcare is keen to promote and support the event.
A marketplace of stalls was set up in the Ashbourne Centre at Kingsway Hospital in Derby, where staff could find out more about support available to them at the Trust, ranging from help to quit smoking to information about the Trust LGBT+ network.
There was also a pledge wall where colleagues could write promises of how they would make an effort to listen more, ask others how they were or simply try to start the conversation around mental health.
Trust Chief Executive Ifti Majid commented: “There were lots of interesting conversations with colleagues during the day, which made it a great success.”
Time to Talk Day this year used the game “Would You Rather…” to try to encourage people to start up a conversation about mental health, whether in the workplace, with friends or at home.
Walking towards good health
In Markeaton Park, Derby, the Trust’s fourth #RunWalkTalk event saw as many as 100 Trust staff, service users, 
carers and participants from partner groups completing a 3.5-mile run or a shorter walk/run or walk round the park on a bright frosty morning.
While they ran or walked, led and accompanied by jog or walk leaders, participants were encouraged to have a chat with others, and many reported some useful and interesting conversations. Partner groups involved in the event were Jog Derbyshire, Move More Derbyshire, Derbyshire Mind, LiveWell Derbyshire and Active Derbyshire.
Participants on the day included a group from Horizons, the city’s new post-16 provision for students who need additional help and guidance. A Horizons spokesperson said #RunWalkTalk was: “a wonderful event bringing together the community to talk about mental health issues and keep fit”.
The #RunWalkTalk series of free events was launched on Time to Talk Day 2019 with a similar run/walk at Markeaton Park, and there have since been two further events at Darley Park. The next event is planned for later this year.
