Dave's Progress. Chapter 22: Time to Change.

After my last blog, I thought I might say a little bit about what is actually being done to combat the stigma surrounding mental ill health. Instead of being so negative, I thought I would try a shot of positivity and finally accept that much is currently underway to try to stop the many outmoded attitudes that continue to plague those experiencing mental ill health.
For a start there is a national campaign currently underway in the UK, called "Time to Change". It is, by any account, a massive and truly national campaign that is taking place over the next four years at a cost of some sixteen million pounds. Most of the leading mental health charities, like Mind and Rethink, are involved, all tying to portray a positive, realistic and sympathetic portrait of those experiencing mental ill health. After a somewhat disappointing initial TV ad, I can only say that I am impressed by the vigour and range of this campaign. Many celebs in the UK have also "come out" in its support, as they have suffered some form of mental distress themselves. Alastair Campbell (depression, I believe at some point psychosis, and alcohol abuse), Stephen Fry (bipolar) and Ruby Wax (depression) all speak from the heart about their experience of mental ill health and try, with their arguments, to dispel the myths and reiterate the facts and break down the barriers which stigma seems to have so solidly erected. The campaign also points out that many historical figures have been sufferers of mental ill health. Their famous five includes Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Charles Darwin, Florence Nightingale and Marie Curie. The campaign points out that if these individuals had been the victims of stigma, the world might be a very different place to what it is today. Which I suppose points to one of the key messages of the campaign, that is that the mentally ill can and do become positive and productive members of society, instead of the mostly imposed social isolation that stigma brings about. The campaign also makes it clear that mental ill health can happen to anyone and is common (we all know the one in four statistic) and that, therefore, the attitudes and behaviour of all towards those in distress is important, as the more support we have, the more able we are to make a genuine, full recovery.
So, will this campaign actually change anything? It's intended outcome is something like a modest five per cent swing in attitudes amongst those who perhaps not directly, but almost subconsciously discriminate against the mentally ill. It, therefore, does not hope to bring about sweeping, but only modest change, and for such a large campaign, this is perhaps also a little disappointing. However, a step in the right direction it most certainly is. For more info go to the "Time to Change" website, where you can view the TV ad, read blogs and personal testimonies and find out about events in your area.
Anyway, speaking of modest campaigns and intentions, MAGMH will be launching its own anti-stigma campaign around April of this year. I am currently working with others to try to assert what our key messages will be and who will be our target audience for these messages. The campaign is not a national one, but will be based solely in the Stoke-on-Trent area and should have a distinctively local feel.
So, perhaps I am a bit overly mopey when it comes to stigma, as we are getting help and, indeed, are helping ourselves. It's just a matter of convincing the general public that it is indeed time to change.
That's all for now from your normal, average, paranoid and delusional man.