🗣️ How to Start a Conversation About Mental Wellbeing

Opening up about mental health can feel daunting, but it is one of the most powerful ways to build supportive communities. In Kingston, around 1 in 5 adults aged 16+ experience a common mental health disorder*, while many young people report feeling stressed, anxious, or isolated.

Simply starting a conversation can help prevent issues from escalating, normalise talking about wellbeing, and reduce feelings of isolation.

* Source: Mind's Big Mental Health Report 2025

Tips to Start the Conversation

🕰️ Choose the Right Moment: Look for quiet, comfortable moments - maybe during a walk, over coffee, or when you’re naturally catching up. Avoid rushing someone or putting them on the spot in public.

💬 Be Open and Non-Judgmental: Ask gentle, open-ended questions like, “How have you been feeling lately?” or “Is there anything on your mind you’d like to share?” The goal is understanding, not solving.

👂 Listen Actively: Focus on listening rather than offering immediate solutions. Reflect back what you hear to show empathy: “It sounds like you’ve had a really tough week.”

🤝 Share Your Own Experiences: When appropriate, sharing your own challenges can normalise the conversation and help someone feel less alone.

🐢 Respect Their Pace: Not everyone will be ready to talk immediately. Reassure them that you’re there whenever they feel ready.

Why It Matters

Even a small question like “How are you?” can be transformative. Kingston’s rising youth stress levels, coupled with feedback from our ‘What Kingston Thinks’ research, shows many want support “in real spaces, not clinical ones.” By engaging in everyday conversations, we help people connect, feel heard, and open pathways to support before problems escalate. In doing so, we foster a culture where wellbeing is part of daily life, not just something discussed in therapy rooms.