Frankie launches "Time To Talk" campaign

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This is on various sites, so I thought add put some of it on here.

The Saturdays star Frankie Sandford has opened up about getting involved with mental health charity Mind's new It's Time To Talk campaign this month.

The 'What About Us' singer has become an ambassador for the newly launched campaign, which aims to raise awareness and end discrimination face by those suffering from mental health problems.

Frankie says the charity is something she has wanted to get involved with for a long time, after suffering her own battles with mental health last year, and has been promoting a temporary tattoo design to help raise awareness.

"For me it's something that's quite close to my heart really as someone that suffered with depression and anxiety," Frankie revealed exclusively to Capital this week. "Speaking out about it last year I've wanted to get involved with Mind and this just seems like a great campaign.

"One of the biggest things is getting people to talk about it, not being embarrassed about it and just raising awareness really."

The 'Gentleman' singer went to explain why she herself decided to speak out about her own issues, and how the It's Time To Talk campaign is not just important for people who suffer from mental health issues.

"For me personally I chose to speak out publicly to everyone and by doing that I was hoping to make it easier for other people to talk," she added. "And also it was good for me, it made me feel so much better, talking and being honest and open about it and I think that really says a lot for the campaign.

"It's not just about people that are suffering with mental illness it's for people that have friends or family [going through it] and knowing how to broach the subject really."

from Capital

She may have just announced that she's taking a break from The Saturdays whilst she prepares for the birth of her first child, but that doesn't mean that Frankie Sandford's sat at home with her feet up watching daytime TV and eating Hobnobs (well, not all of the time, at least).

Instead, the singer is using the time to do something positive - supporting mental health organisation Time To Change's new anti-stigma campaign, #TimeToTalk, by wearing her heart on her sleeve (or hand, as the picture below shows) and opening up about her own experience of depression to help drive the message home.

Frankie - who found fame with S Club Juniors aged just 12 years old - has previously admitted to struggling with depression for most of her career, and is now working with Mind and Rethink Mental Illness to help tackle the discrimination that many people with a mental health problem still face.

“Mental health is still such an awkward subject, yet if someone was going through another physical illness we wouldn’t hesitate to ask them how they’re doing," Frankie shrewdly observes.

And, drawing on examples from her own life, she adds: "When I experienced depression, I had the support of friends and family which really helped - being able to talk about it is really important."

She continues: “I hope by supporting Time to Change I can raise awareness about the importance of starting a conversation. If you know someone experiencing a mental health problem, you could ask them how they are, or send them a quick text to let them know you’re there – it can make a huge difference and remind them that they’re not alone. We all have mental health, so it’s something we should definitely learn to be more open about.”

from style.uk.msn

I think this is a great campaign and it's great Frankie is still involved whilst on her maternity leave.