1. Section Title Length of the assembly: 15 minutes
Time to Change is a movement dedicated to reducing stigma and discrimination around mental health. The campaign has improved over 4.1m people’s attitudes towards mental health, and is runs it’s annual Time to Talk Day event nationally every year.

2. Today is Time to Talk Day 2019
1 in 8 young people will have a mental health problem.
Too many feel isolated and ashamed. Many can’t even speak to their friends about it.
Today is Time to Talk Day
Together, we can look out for each other.
Read out first stat.
Time to Talk Day 2019
On Time to Talk Day we want everyone to have a conversation about mental health. Time to Talk Day 2019 is taking place on Thursday 7 February across the country, with thousands of people getting involved.
This year’s Time to Talk Day is all about bringing together the right ingredients, to have a conversation about mental health. Whether that’s tea, biscuits and close friends or a room full of people challenging mental health stigma, we want you to get talking. Essentially creating the space to have a chat about mental health in any capacity.
Then mention the reason why the day is important and why the school is getting involved.

3. What is a meaningful conversation?
Highlight how a meaningful conversation doesn’t need to be disclosing or asking for help, but that Time to Talk day encourages people to talk about mental health in any capacity. It can be asking a question about mental health that you don’t know the answer to, speaking to a friend about it, sharing thoughts while on a walk or in a café. You don’t have to be an expert, but the important thing is to get talking.

4. What do all these people have in common?
Time to Talk
What do all these people have in common?
Dwanyne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
Demi Lovato
Leonardo DiCaprio
Shawn Mendez
Beyoncé
Zayn Malik
Lady Gaga
Stormzy
Explain that all these celebrities have had lived experience of mental health problems and have all have spoken openly about their struggles. (Optional - Ask why it’s important and get audience to feed back)
Explain that being open about mental health can break down stigma and discrimination surrounding the topic
Beyoncé's quote - “I was afraid I would never find somebody again to love me for me. I was afraid of making new friends. Then one day my mom said: ‘Why do you think a person wouldn’t love you? Don’t you know how smart and sweet and beautiful you are?’ That’s when I decided I only had two choices: I can give up, or I can go on.”
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson – “Depression never discriminates,” “Took me a long time to realize it but the key is to not be afraid to open up. Especially us dudes have a tendency to keep it in. You’re not alone.”
Having conversations about mental health helps break down stereotypes, improve relationships, aid recovery and take the stigma out of something that affects us all. There are lots of different ways to have a conversation about mental health. And you don’t have to be an expert to talk.

5. What are other young people saying?
What are your three ‘essential’ ingredients to having a meaningful conversation about mental health?
One moment of connection, a scoopful of compassion and several doses of support!
Name two places you’ve had meaningful conversations about mental health (e.g. on a walk, at Nando’s, at a gig etc.)
The school learning centre and a get together with friends have been key places in the very early days of me seeking help years ago :)
Mention that these are real answers from Young Champions, Time to Change volunteers with lived experience of mental health problems who campaign to change attitudes by sharing their experience. (Read out this slide to the whole group)

6. Time to Talk
What is the one key message you wish you’d heard in a school assembly about mental health?
I wish I'd heard anything; my school never spoke about mental health, but if I were in school now I'd want the key message to be how it isn't anything to be ashamed of.
What are your three ‘essential’ ingredients to having a meaningful conversation about mental health?
Trust, time and openness. Trust the people you are sharing with, make sure you have time to talk so it isn't rushed, and be as open as possible with them.
Read out this slide.
(Optional Activity) – ask the students in pairs to put together their ingredients for a good mental health conversation.

7. Where? When? Who? What? Why? How? Time to Talk
This slide aims to illustrate the variety of places that different, meaningful conversations can take place, and they can happen naturally and don’t need to be scary and intense. (Optional – ask students to suggest their own examples for each of these questions).
Where? - on a walk, empty classroom, at lunch, round your house, Nando’s, etc. Online
When? - explain that this can be anywhere you can both speak un-hurried and away from others.
Who? - Your mates, Your family, a colleague, someone in your school you don’t know
What? - do something together, whether that be a meal out, a walk in the park, hanging out in a coffee shop or going bowling, playing video games, playing sport etc.
Why? - If you notice someone acting differently – people can often not think that mental health is important to talk about, or that they’re feelings aren’t worth bothering others with. By talking about mental health we reduce the stigma surrounding it and create a school society open to talking and supporting one another.
How? - #asktwice – explain that sometimes we say we’re fine even when we’re not, especially if asked in passing or as a greeting. To really find out how someone is, make sure you ask twice. Be empathetic and ask questions.
Explain that Eric has some tips on the next slide…(and show videos x5)

8. Time to Talk – What can you do?!
Show Eric’s 5 tips

9. Time to Talk
“Mental illnesses can make people feel very isolated, especially if people are not supportive.
Listen, be patient and simply be kind.”
Gemma
Explain that it benefits us all to talk about mental health on a regular basis and that Time to Talk Day is just the beginning of conversations in your school and personal life
Highlight any mental health support / initiatives that the school has in place or coming up

10. Section Title
Thank You