Latest updates
14th August 2008
Moving people – campaigning against stigma
Having a mental health problem is very different from having a
physical one. It has a stigma which devastates many people’s
lives – including the lives of carers. A group of mental health
charities is running a campaign, Moving People, to highlight
this issue and help people to challenge misconceptions.
One in four of us have a mental health problem at some point in
our lives: it’s something which affects most of us personally or
through friends or family. A survey, ‘Stigma Shout’, has just
been published by Moving People, showing the negative impact on
people’s ability to make friends, have a social life and to find
and keep a job. Fear of admitting to a mental health problem
means people are isolated, unable to talk about their situation.
Carers also report on their own isolation: the effect the
illness has on their social lives and friendships.
The impact is yet greater for those already in danger of
discrimination such as people who are also physically disabled
or are members of ethnic minority groups.
‘Stigma Shout’ and news of the Moving People campaign are
available on its website,
www.movingpeople.org.uk.
The campaign will be launched this coming January, with local
action planned throughout the country.