UK-based mental health charity Mind has partnered with National Tea Day to encourage people to talk about their mental health ‘over a cuppa.’ The campaign is meant to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and to emphasise that having a conversation about mental health can be as simple as sitting down for a cup of tea.

Similar to Macmillan’s ‘The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ fundraising event, where people gather together across the UK to donate the price of their coffee and more to Macmillan’s Cancer Support, Mind’s collaboration with National Tea Day encourages people to raise awareness about an important issue while spending quality time together. Such initiatives simplify fundraising and difficult conversations about mental health, transforming them into enjoyable social events.

Moreover, mental health is a growing issue throughout the UK. Mind estimates that one in four people suffer from a mental health issue in the UK, and that these numbers are on the rise with more people experiencing anxiety, depression and loneliness. Given these startling statistics, this partnership encourages interpersonal interaction and connection in an age when technology and other distractions can result in fewer frank conversations about important topics like mental health.

“It’s fantastic to see people get together over a cuppa to combat loneliness and talk about whatever is on their mind,” says Rebecca Hastings, head of corporate partnerships at Mind. “Every penny raised will fund our vital work including Mind’s Infoline, advice services and the campaigning work we do to secure a better deal for the one in four of us who experience a mental health problem every year.”

This partnership comes in advance of the FestTeaVal, a family friendly tea festival on 13 and 14 April at Tobacco Dock in east London, where 10% of the gate receipts will be donated to Mind, and the official National Tea Day, which is celebrated on 21 April.