{"id":4478,"date":"2026-01-28T16:14:33","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T16:14:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/?p=4478"},"modified":"2026-03-04T12:51:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T12:51:32","slug":"6-tips-for-starting-a-conversation-about-your-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/2026\/01\/28\/6-tips-for-starting-a-conversation-about-your-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"6 tips for starting a conversation about your mental health"},"content":{"rendered":"

Talking about mental health isn\u2019t always easy \u2013 especially when you\u2019re not sure how to begin. But if you\u2019re struggling, opening up can make a real difference.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Here are six practical tips to help you get the conversation started from Rachael Rice, Student Adviser (Mental Health and Autism) at Teesside University.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Holding<\/p>\n

1. Choose someone you trust<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Opening up can feel easier when you\u2019re speaking to someone who makes you feel comfortable \u2013 a family member, friend, flatmate, GP, or someone from the student support service.<\/span><\/p>\n

You might even want to speak to all of the above because different people may be able to offer different kinds of support.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Note<\/p>\n

2. Think about what you want to say<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Writing down some of the things you want to talk about on your phone or a piece of paper can make it easier to collect your thoughts and get started.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re still finding it challenging, try filling in the gaps in these sentences:<\/span><\/p>\n