In 2016, the Making Every Contact Count (MECC) framework was introduced in the UK and Ireland. The initiative seeks to exploit the daily contacts between healthcare staff and the public as opportunities to promote positive change in people’s health. As ill health is linked to modifiable risk factors, behaviour change is vital. MECC focuses on four domains: healthy eating, physical activity, reducing alcohol consumption and smoking cessation, which are not always easy topics for healthcare practitioners to raise and discuss. Mental health clients are at increased risk of various health problems meaning such interventions are important in mental health nursing. Raising such topics requires sensitivity and tact if the intervention is to be successful and the therapeutic relationship maintained. The stages of change and motivational interviewing are regularly utilised theories in relation to implementing the MECC approach. This article provides a brief overview of these theories and how they can be implemented by mental health nurses to support behaviour change.