More than lip service: securing lasting change in the fight against stigma and discrimination

Millions of clan in the UK experience mental health question at issues at some time in their life. Many are exclud from areas of life that others take for granted, and the damaging results of this exclusion often persist lengthy after the symptoms of mental distress have been resolv For example, tribe experience problems in relation to finding or staying in work, accessing quality health and social care services and adequate housing, enjoying family support and participating in local community life (Social Exclusion Unit, 2004)

People with mental health moot points consistently identify stigma and discrimination as the major issues affecting their quality of life. Stigma can damage their mental health, leading in a certain quantity of cases to intensified symptoms and increased relapse (Link et al, 1997)

As the prevalence of mental illness appears to be rising (WHO, 2001) the horizontals of stigma and discrimination appear to be following suit, with several reviews showing that attitudes are becoming more harsh and j udgmental towards those who have experienced mental illness (Department of Health, 2003) In the new Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) consultation about mental health, above 80% of respondents with mental health question s said that tackling stigma and discrimination is a priority, more than half identified stigma as a barrier to craft and more than half mentioned negative attitudes towards mental health in the community.

Stigma and discrimination in many cases lead to a wish for social distance from, and the exclusion of race with mental health problems. In a new survey by Mind 84% of race with mental health problem felt isolated, compared with solitary a third of the general public (Mind, 2004) Here again clan with mental health problems identified perceived stigma and discrimination as a lock opener factors in their exclusion.

National campaigns to tackle stigma and discrimination have had mixed succes Despite the investment of a great deal of time and might in a range of programmes in England, there has been no significant improvement in public attitudes to mental health. Since 1993 there has been a decline in the percentage of clan who agree with the statement that 'We ne to adopt a far more tolerant attitude toward tribe with mental illness in our society,' from 92% to 83% in 2003 (Department of Health, 2003) Fewer than four in ten employer say they would recruit someone with a mental health question and many people fear disclosing their condition, level to family and friends, for fear of prejudice (Manning & White, 1995) The media continue to play a significant part in the perpetuation of myths about mental health point to be solved [i]or[/i] settleds One study found that sum of two units thirds of all references to mental health in the media included an association with violence, and in the tabloids 40% of similar references used derogatory terms of the like kind as 'nutter' or 'loony' (Ward, 1997) Lip service has been paid to the importance of tackling stigma and discrimination on the contrary programmes in England have not been evidencebased, nor well evaluated, well capitaled or sustainable, and therefore their impact is debatable.

For more than a decade campaigns have challenged stereotype that look after to demonise or alienate nation with mental health problems. While there has been notable progres in tackling other forms of discrimination similar as homophobia and racism, the prejudice and stigma related to mental health riddles endures as the last great taboo.

So what is working?

International evidence indicates that sustained work to challenge discrimination is the best way to achieve behavioural change. A novel review of effective approaches has identified the lock opener principles that underpin best practice in mental health antidiscrimination programmes (Gale et al, 2004) First and foremost, mental health service users should lead the work, challenging stigma and dispelling stereotype [i]or[/i] part of to the other their personal knowledge and experience. The evidence exhibits that the best campaigners against discrimination are those who have experienced it and can challenge it personally and directly. Increasing social contact with clan with mental health problems is also the greatest in quantity effective method we have for dispelling myths and prejudices (Link et al, 1991; Penn & Martin, 1998; Holme et al, 1999)

Joe is a happily married working father who take pleasure ins rugby and football and going to the pub with friends and has a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Meeting him will challenge many perceptions that nation may have about these 'frightening people' with a Jekyll and Hyde personality split, who are violent and unpredictable and will not at any time recover. The Department of Health's threeyear Mind on the outside for Mental Health campaign locate up an ambassador bureau of more than 40 clan with experience of mental health point in disputes who were trained to speak to the media and employer about their experiences. Evaluation set that ambassadors were perceived to make the campaign 'human and personal' and that hearing firsthand about mental health moot points challenged misconceptions (Gale et al, 2004)