Combating Stigma

Stigma are the negative attitudes people hold. Discrimination is the behaviour which results from the attitudes. Stigma in relation to mental illness is alive and well, and is one of the biggest problems that people with a mental illness face.

The latest report on attitudes to mental health from the Office for National Statistics show that some attitudes are changing for the better, greater tolerance for example, whereas others, such as the need for specialist services, have worsened.

There are two major national initiatives to challenge stigma. Shift is the Department of Health’s campaign to combat stigma. Time to Change is funded by Comic Relief and the National Lottery and brings together a range of organisations to tackle this issue.

Mental Health Care have also produced a range of resources providing information about stigma and how to challenge it.

In London we work with Shift and Time to Change and others, and hold a series of events to challenge stigma and discrimination  with a particular emphasis on employment issues – given the role employment has in promoting greater inclusion.