07/11/2007

Johannes Parkkonen

Senior Campaign Development Officer

29 May 2008

• Why to tackle stigma and discrimination

• Who is ‘see me’

• Early years of the campaign

• Where are we now

• Personality disorders and stigma

• What can we all do to challenge stigma and discrimination

Outline

David Dempster, EasterhouseWhen I was off work with a broken leg I got loads of support from the fire brigade. Crew were always dropping by, so much so there was almost always a fire engine outside the house! When I went off sick with depression there was nothing. Not one card, call or visit. I had to prove I was ill by undergoing two additional medicals. Then, when I was well again, the fire service didn’t want me back... in any capacity. Twenty years of service and expertise written off! ...It’s time for every one of us to help create a climate in which we can all talk openly about mental health problems, get help when we need it and get rid of the negative attitudes which belong in the past.

Why Challenge Stigma and Discrimination?

“I would love to go out more places such as the

local pub and library but I am too frightened to in

case I am dangerous. I have never been

dangerous but you read about schizophrenics

being dangerous all the time in the paper, so I

thought that because I have schizophrenia that I

would be dangerous if I went out”

Danny, Ayr

• Formed in 2002 by an alliance of five mental health

organisations

• Run by a management group of alliance members

• Fully funded by the Scottish Government since 2002

• Key aim is to eliminate the stigma and discrimination of

mental ill-health

• Target audience is the Scottish general public

• Integrated communications agency

• Eight staff – based in Edinburgh

• High profile national identity and a flexible resource for

local action

‘see me….’

PROCESS:

• Taking time to get it right

• Involvement of those with mental health problems and

carers

• Starting from where the public IS – rather than where we

think they are

• Using the ‘first person voice’ as the focus of our campaign

• Not admonishing the public – showing negative impact of

stigma and ways forward for positive support

‘see me….’

Initial focus on the general public

Followed by particular emphasis on Employers and Workplace & Children and Young People

Where are we now?

• Increased awareness and understanding of MHPs

• People more confident to talk about mental health problems

• 1 in 4 message understood also “it could happen to anyone”

• Recognition that most people recover

• Decrease in negative reporting

• Evidence that attitudes are changing

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

2002 2004 2006

If I had a mental healthproblem, I wouldn't wantpeople knowing about it

The public should bebetter protected frompeople with mentalhealth problems

People with mentalhealth problems areoften dangerous

I would find it hard to talkto someone with amental health problem

Public Attitudes Survey 2002 - 2006

Feeling able to be more open and talk about MHP

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 0

S o m e / A lo t A lit t le N o

%

T o ta l

W i th M H P

S u p p o r te r s

Source: A fairer future 2007

0 % 2 0 % 4 0 % 6 0 % 8 0 % 1 0 0%

N o . I h a v e to ld n o - o n e

Y e s - T u to r a t U n i

Y e s - p e o p le I d o n ' t k n o w w e ll

Y e s - w o r k c o lle a g u e s

Y e s - b o s s a t w o r k

Y e s - fa m i ly / f r i e n d s

Have you told anyone about your mental health problem, apart from your doctor or any

other health professionals?

Source: PAS 2006

Situation where stigma experienced

 Total

%% With

MHPSupporters

%

Friends and family 53 50 53

Employment46 44 37

Local community 24 18 29

Mental health/other health services 17 13 18

Education or training 17 12 18

Financial institutions 13 10 15

Government agencies and local government services 12 9 12

Parenting 10 6 12

Sports clubs/organised activities 6 4 15

Another situation 17 16 15

Source: A fairer future 2007

The Challenge

Attitude Change Behaviour Change

07/11/2007

‘see me’s model of societal change

07/11/2007

‘see me’s model of societal change

Speed of success dependent on audience andcomplexity of mental health issues

Personality Disorder and Stigma

• Need to build more comprehensive knowledge base• Hear Me! Survey in 2006 indicated that stigma is particularly

high for PD:– Highest stigma experience – 94% (81% average)– 70% experienced stigma among friends/family (53%)– 58% in employment (46%)– 43% in local community (24%) – schizophrenia was

higher at 48%– 51% in mental health/other health services (24%)– 89% self-stigma or situation avoiding (82%)– Lowest % who thought situation got better; highest % who

thought it got worse compared to 2002

Why the high stigma?

• Several possibilities:– People with PD may also experience other MHP; more

likely to experience stigma– Social isolation/rejection due to alterations in

behaviour/offensive traits that accompany some PDs– Experience in health service hampered by poor diagnostic

criteria; resulting in prejudice– Poor & insensitive media reporting on more complex MHP

(e.g. “Killer-soldier jury is told of ‘disorder’”, P&J, 14/3/07)– The above, and general lack of awareness, creating fear

of unknown?• “Lost” personality = non-capacity to control one’s

actions?

What can YOU do?

• Sign the ‘see me’ Pledge

• Display campaign materials & take the message out to wider community

• Become a Media Volunteer

• Stigma Stop Watch – Challenge individual incidents of stigma in the media/popular culture

• Join the campaign activity and discussions on the website

• Use the ‘see me’ toolkit (available later in 2008)

• Keep us informed of activities & research

“The man sitting next to me on the train

made me nervous because he was

looking at his reflection in the window

and talking to himself. But he turned

round to me and said that it was OK

because he had schizophrenia and was

just talking to the voices he could hear.

I felt fine after that.” Louise, Markinch

(age 15)

Thank You!

'see me' - Let's stop the stigma of mental ill-health

 

9-13 Maritime Street

Edinburgh

EH6 6SB

 

Telephone: 0131 624 8945

Email: info@seemescotland.org

Web: www.seemescotland.org & www.justlikeme.org.uk

'see me' is run by an Alliance of five mental health organisations and is fully funded by the Scottish Government's National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being.