"No matter your age, starting a conversation about mental health can be the first step to feeling understood. A small chat can change a life”

Discussing mental health and wellbeing can help promote better understanding and encourages a supportive environment, says a senior Derbyshire nurse – even if it’s sometimes a challenging topic to bring up. 

Ahead of Time to Talk Day on 5 February 2026, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust urges people to discuss mental health, especially when feeling low. The Trust has joined Derbyshire Mind in promoting these key conversations in a bid to get people more comfortable with the uncomfortable.

The theme for this years’ Time to Talk Day is ‘brave the big talk’ – and have conversations about mental health experiences that might still feel a bit unspoken.

Libby Runcie, Deputy Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Safety at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “As a nurse, I’ve seen how powerful even a brief conversation can be. No matter your age, starting a conversation about mental health can be the first step to feeling understood. A small chat can change a life. A simple ‘How are you really doing?’ can make a bigger difference than you think.

“Whether you’re revising for exams, juggling work and family, caring for a partner, or enjoying retirement, we all carry feelings that can be hard to put into words. You don’t need the perfect phrase – just a moment of courage and a willingness to talk or listen can mean so much.

“If you can, take five minutes with someone you trust over a cuppa, on a walk, or in a quiet moment. And if someone checks in on you, remember that you’re never a burden and you won’t be judged. As nurses, we don’t expect anyone to have all the answers – we simply want people to feel heard, understood and supported. That’s why this Time to Talk Day, we’re encouraging everyone to make space for a conversation, however small, and to look out for one another.”

General support available to people in Derby and Derbyshire

Everyone experiences ups and downs at some point but poor mental health is not something that should be experienced alone. There are lots of self-help tips and advice on the NHS’s Every Mind Matters website. And there are also lots of ways to reach out in Derby and Derbyshire if you need someone to talk to – including local events, drop-in centres, safe havens open every night of the week, and a 24/7 local helpline – and these are described in more detail below.

Children’s Mental Health Week

From 9 – 15 February, it is Children’s Mental Health Week. This years’ theme is 'This is My Place' which encourages peers, families, schools and communities to create an environment that gives children and young people a sense of belonging.

Helping children and young people maintain good mental health is more crucial than ever. Many young people are still facing difficult times, so finding creative approaches to encourage them to share their feelings is essential.

You can find out more about useful information on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) page through the Trust’s website. Alternatively, there are other organisations offering a range of support:

• Chat Health: a secure and confidential text messaging service for parents and young people. It allows you to easily get in touch with a healthcare professional for advice and support. You don’t have to give your name if you don’t want to; you can still send a message to get advice or to chat with us about any worries you may have. 
  • Parents: send us a message by texting 07507 327754 
  • Young people (aged 11-19) - send us a message by texting 07507 327104
• ChildLine: www.childline.org.uk 0800 1111 (call, email, text chat, message boards)                                                                       ​​​​​​
• Samaritans: www.samaritans.org 116 123 (call, email, letters) 

• Visit Kooth: www.kooth.com for anonymous online counselling support  

• Young Minds: www.youngminds.org.uk  text YM to 85258 for 24/7 text support

• Young Mind Parents Helpline for detailed advice, emotional support and signposting about a child or young person up to the age of 25. Freephone 0808 802 5544, Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm 

• Papyrus:  www.papyrus-uk.org / HOPELINEUK 0800 0684141 (9am to midnight, including weekends and bank holidays) a confidential support and advice service for: 
  • Children and Young People under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide 
  • Anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide
  • You can also text 07860 039 967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org 
  • You can also dial 111 and select the 'mental health' option to reach the NHS helpline in your area

Or contact your local GP, school nurse or other health/social care professional.  

Urgent mental health support services 

If you, or someone you care for, needs urgent mental health support, there are a range of options available to support you. These are summarised below, or you can find more information online – on the 'help in a crisis' page on the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust website or on the ‘Derby and Derbyshire emotional health and wellbeing’ website. Remember: in a medical emergency or life-threatening situation, please attend your nearest Accident and Emergency (A&E) department or call 999.

Mental Health Crisis Support Drop-In Services

There are three crisis support drop-in services open Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons in Buxton, Swadlincote and Ripley. These drop-in services, run by Derbyshire Mind in partnership with local community organisations, offer an out-of-hours friendly and welcoming community support space open to anyone over 18 experiencing a mental health crisis or emotional distress. This is an opportunity to get support and help in a relaxed and comfortable environment.

All three services are open Fridays and Saturdays 6pm to 11pm, and Sundays 2.30pm to 5.30pm.

• The Buxton service is located at Zink in the Market Street Car Park (top of Clough Street), SK17 6LJ. 

• The Ripley service is at The Croft, Slack Lane (just off Ripley Market Place), DE5 3HF.

• The Swadlincote service is at 12-14 West Street (opposite the Empire Cinema), DE11 9DE.

Full details of all three services are on the Derbyshire Mind website.

Safe Havens

These centres, in Derby and Chesterfield, are open every evening from 4.30pm to 12.30am and are places where people can get support when they feel overwhelmed or unable to cope.

• Derby’s Safe Haven, run by Waythrough, is at 309 Burton Road, Derby DE23 6AG. Tel: 0330 008 3722

• Chesterfield’s Safe Haven, run by the charity P3, is at 188 North Wingfield Road, Grassmoor, Chesterfield, S42 5EJ. It can be contacted through the Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline on 0800 028 0077 or you can self-refer by making a booking on the P3 website. 

Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline and Support Service – dial 111 and select the ‘mental health’ option

This free helpline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for residents of Derby and Derbyshire of all ages, adults and children alike. There is now a new option for Deaf people and those with a hearing impairment to contact the helpline via the SignVideo app. Learn more at www.derbyshirehelpline.com

The helpline works closely with the Safe Havens and also Derbyshire’s Crisis Houses, which offer short-term residential accommodation to people with urgent mental health needs, to support their wellbeing. 

Other useful websites

The Hub of Hope website has lots of information about other support services available nationwide.