Primary Care Sheffield (PCS) has launched a new campaign to help patients prepare to talk to their GPs about their mental wellbeing. The ‘Start the Talk’ initiative, launched last Wednesday, encourages people to think about their feelings and express their emotions confidently when speaking to healthcare professionals.
Recognising that many patients often struggle to discuss emotional and psychological concerns, the campaign offers self-help tools and grounding techniques at GP practices across the city.
Helping patients find the words
“‘Start the Talk’ offers a simple but effective way for patients to better prepare for their appointments,” says Melanie Hall, head of service for Primary and Community Mental Health at PCS. “By helping them to organise their thoughts and emotions in advance and even use grounding techniques, we hope to reduce anxiety and improve the conversations that lead to meaningful support and treatment.”
The campaign will be introduced at all 75 GP practices in Sheffield. Posters will be displayed in waiting rooms and queuing areas, and QR codes in surgeries will link patients to helpful conversation prompts and other useful materials online. There will be additional publicity via social media messages to patients.
“This campaign is all about empowering people to start talking about their mental health, knowing that they will be listened to and supported,” adds Hall. “Because when it comes to your mental health, finding the words to start the talk is the first step.”
Taking time to pause
Among the techniques recommended by the campaign are breathing exercises such as the 5-4-3-2-1 method, which help people to focus. Patients are encouraged to use these strategies before their appointment to calm their thoughts and feel more confident and at ease when sharing their concerns.
Dr Lucy Cormack, GP and Medical Director at PCS, highlights how simple tools can help patients communicate more clearly: “Talking about mental health isn’t always easy. Many people feel overwhelmed or struggle to put their emotions into words, which can make it harder for their GP to provide the right support. Small steps, like using grounding techniques before an appointment, can make a big difference.”
The campaign will run throughout April 2025, with resources available to patients all year round.
About Primary Care Sheffield
PCS is a not-for-profit company led by local GPs, working to improve the quality of care services in the city. It aims to meet the diverse needs of the community it serves by tackling health inequalities and providing accessible and patient-centred healthcare.
To explore Start the Talk’s resources or find out more about the campaign, visit the PCS website.
