Dave's Progress. Chapter 36: Time to Change Roadshow Comes to Town

OK, not that I'm obsessed with the "Time to Change" campaign or anything, but as we at The Media Action Group for Mental Health are working in collaboration with the campaign to bring their roadshow to Stoke-on-Trent, I thought I had better give this a mention.
As I have mentioned before, the Time to Change campaign is a truly national phenomenon, and must be one of the biggest anti-stigma campaigns of recent years. It has funding in excess of something like sixteen million pounds and its aims and objectives seem to go hand in hand with what we are trying to achieve at MAGMH. These aims include:-
- creating a 5% positive shift in public attitudes towards mental health problems.
- achieving a 5% reduction in discrimination by 2012.
- increasing the ability of 100,000 people with mental health problems to address discrimination.
- engaging over 250,00 people in physical activity.
- producing a powerful evidence base of what works.
All these aims, although some of them would seem pretty modest, would provide an important shift in attitudes and actual discrimination. Even providing a powerful evidence base of what works in reducing stigma is extremely important, as at present there is precious little research into means and methods by which stigma can actively be reduced. All we seem to know at present, for certain, is that meeting people with mental ill health who disconfirm the stereotypes of it does change people's attitudes. Apart from that, it would seem that education or media campaigns alone do not entirely work. We hold our breath, then, over the success or failure of this most recent effort.
The primary audience of the campaign are in their late 20's to early 40's, from middle to lower socio-economic groups, and would include both males and females. According to the research done by Time to Change, those among this audience are often "subconscious stigmatizers". That is they are people who don't recognise that discrimination happens because of mental health problems or that their actions may contribute to this . This group are said to have low levels of knowledge about mental ill health and high levels of fear. The campaign, therefore, emphasises three main themes- that mental illness is still a big taboo, that mental illness is a common part of life and that there is something that "you" can do to help.
Anyway, the roadshow will be coming to Hanley on Saturday, 17th October and will be taking place in Tontine Square between Lloyds TSB and Halifax Building Society. Please, then, if any of you out there in blog land can, come along and give us your support.
The roadshow should be being endorsed by a local celebrity and the roadshow stand includes technical equipment including two screens, PC, speakers, laptop and camera for a visual petition. So, those who want to can even be interviewed on camera about their experience of the TTC roadshow and the footage may be used in a video compilation produced at a later date.
What's more, you may even run into your normal, average paranoid and delusional man. Now who could resist that?

Comments

Dixie@dcrelief said…
Hi David,
I hope the goals are met. Enjoy the 'roadeshow'; it's unfortunate I live so far away, as I'd attend.
It would an honour to meet you.
In peace and respect.
David said…
Dear dc,
Thankyou, as ever, for your support.
Hopefully this campaign will bring about change, if only just a modest amount.
And it would be an honour to meet you too!
Yours with Very Best Wishes,
David.
klahanie said…
Dear David,
Thank you yet another highly informative blog.
Let us hope that the 'Time to Change' roadshow is a resounding success. The continuing challenge to shift the perceptions of mental health concerns, is a challenge well worth our dedication.
Of course, I have already had the great honour of meeting you, David. Hopefully we can someday have the great honour of meeting Dixie.
With great respect, Gary.
David said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
David said…
Dear Gary,
As a menber of the steering group for the MAGMH Local People, Local Lives campaign, you may well find yourself involved in the Time to Change roadshow, if, that is, you are willing.
Any contribution is greatly appreciated and believe me, yours is worth while and much appreciated.
With Very Best Wishes,
David.

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