MENTAL health has been at the forefront of Darlington business taking part in a national campaign to encourage people to seek help.

Advent Advocacy, based in Darlington's Lingfield Point, hosted a #TimeToTalk event yesterday, in a bid to share tips and advice about how loved ones, friends and colleagues can improve their mental health support others.

Lindsey Martin, operations director at Advent Advocacy, said: “We want to get people talking about mental health the same way that they’d talk about physical health.

“For instance, you wouldn’t think twice about saying to someone, 'I’m not feeling well, I’ve got a bit of a cold and it’s been hanging round for a couple of days', but you’d be less likely to say, 'I’m not feeling very well because I’ve got anxiety”'

“The #TimeToTalk event is about bringing together individuals, employers and businesses to destigmatise mental health, to get it into the narrative and language so it becomes casual and people feel empowered to be able to disclose mental health difficulties and get the support and the understanding that they need.”