IT’S GOOD TO TALK

MENTAL HEALTH WEEK

We’ve come a long way in how we talk about mental health—but for many of us, the hardest part is still saying, "I'm struggling."

It can feel risky to admit that we’re not okay. We worry about what others might think. We tell ourselves we should be coping better. That other people have it worse. That if we just keep going, things will sort themselves out.

But silence rarely brings relief. And pretending we’re fine doesn’t make the weight any lighter.

Talking about mental health doesn’t mean having all the answers. It doesn’t mean putting everything into perfect words. It simply means being human—honest, open, and willing to say, “This is hard.”

We need spaces where it’s okay to be real. Where we don’t have to wear the ‘together’ mask. Where someone can say, “I get it,” or even just, “I’m here.” Because often, the act of saying something—anything—is what starts to shift things.

It reminds us we’re not alone. That support exists. That what we’re feeling is valid.

I’ve learned this the hard way. Like many others, I kept going long after I should have stopped. I wore the mask, said I was fine, stayed busy—and burned out. It took a long time to admit how I really felt. And even longer to accept that asking for help wasn’t weakness. It was the turning point.

Talking didn’t fix everything overnight, but it opened the door to support, healing, and connection. And for me, that made all the difference.

So, this Mental Health Week, let this be your reminder: you don’t have to hold it all in. You don’t have to wait until you’re at breaking point to speak.

Whether it’s a friend, a colleague, a family member, or a professional—you deserve to be heard.

You deserve support.

You deserve to feel better.

And it starts, often, with a single conversation.