Toolstation has continued in its campaign with Time to Change to provide ongoing support for tradespeople, marking Time to Talk Day on Thursday 4th February to encourage people to talk more openly.
Its campaign was established eight years ago by Time to Change which sets out to spread awareness of mental health issues.
As the impacts of COVID-19 continue to affect its customers, Toolstation wants to encourage more of its customers to talk more openly about mental health.
With current lockdown making it more difficult to meet face to face, worryingly, recent findings by Toolstation brought to light that over half of its customers expressed discomfort towards talking about important issues like mental health over Zoom or Facetime.
Furthermore, respondents over the age of 55 highlighted they have lost access to the people in their support network since lockdown because they cannot meet face to face or talk at the places they usually would, such as football matches or at the pub.
The survey also uncovered the concerning impacts for millennial trade and DIY customers, under 35 years, who cited career, for 57%, and finances, for 53%, as main concerns. However, they were more inclined to open up about mental health, with 89% confirming they had initiated a conversation and offered help to a friend they are worried about.
Toolstation’s work with Time To Change has provided practical guidance and digital resources through its dedicated website hub and social channels.
To support Time to Talk Day, Toolstation is working with Andy Stevens, a well-known tradesperson from DIY SOS, to present a live show with On The Tools on their Facebook page, to interview two members of the Northampton Saints rugby team and a tradesperson talking all things mental health.
For more information on the campaign visit: https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/get-involved/time-talk-day