Time to Change in the media

Here are some highlights of recent media coverage of Time to Change.

June 2012

The Guardian, 15 June
Mental health problems no longer a bar to becoming an MP: two MPs disclose their mental illness in Parliament

Time to Change Director, Sue Baker, welcomed this news: "This will go down in the history books as we have never before seen our political leaders and parliamentarians feel able to discuss their mental health problems openly without fear of discrimination..."

Read the full debate in Hansard.

The story also appeared in:
The Independent
Daily Mail
BBC News
Press Association
Huffington Post
MSN.co.uk
Scottish Daily Mail
Politics Home

May 2012

The Sun, Letters, 29 May
Response from Time to Change following boxer Ricky Hatton's mental illness disclosure

The honest disclosure by boxer Ricky Hatton about his depression will help break down some of the stigma that surrounds mental health.

Third Sector, 22 May
My Week: Jenni Regan, Time to Change's Senior Media Advisor, has her say on soap storylines

Third Sector explores a week in the life of Time to Change's Jenni Regan.

East End Life, May
Ending stigma of mental health

Tower Hamlet's Council sign a Time to Change pledge

April 2012

Shortlist, 19 April
How to deal with depression

It's the No.1 killer of young men, and it can sneak up on you, too. Andrew Dickens squares up to the sly creature that is depression.

Lambeth Weekender, 16 April
News in pics

London's South Bank hosted the Time to Change 'pop-up village'.

March 2012

The Guardian, G2, 15 March
The truth about depression: six people speak out

Depression is not picky. Men, women, rich, poor, white, black. No one is immune. It is not just an illness for people with dark, mysterious pasts or chaotic presents. It is ubiquitous. Empirical and anecdotal evidence suggests this is fast becoming the disease du jour. Antidepressant prescriptions have soared. The World Health Organisation warns that mental illness will be second only to HIV/Aids in the burden it places on the world by the end of this decade.

Despite this, it is still badly misunderstood. Why? Because most people have been a bit low, a bit sad, a bit depressed at one time in their life, and so can't see what all the fuss is about. After my own epic tussle with depression, I wanted to describe what it is really like and demonstrate that it is so much more than just feeling a bit blue on Monday mornings. And so I wrote a book.

But I didn't just want to tell my story. I spoke to dozens of fellow travellers, some locally and others via the national mental health campaign Time to Change, and asked them about their experiences. Many did not want to go public. Depressed people still feel the world is deeply suspicious of them, is unlikely to befriend them and certainly won't give them a job. But some were willing to speak openly about their battle with the illness.

The Weekly News, 15 March
I took depression battle to No 10

Detailed article about Time to Change supporter Claudette Lawrence who took her depression battle to No 10 after writing to the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown about the stigma that still surrounds mental health.

February 2012
  

Community Care online, 13 February
Happy Valentine's Day - without mental health stigma 

Have a look at this Valentine's video from Time to Change, the anti-mental health stigma campaign, to highlight the issue of stigma within relationships. The campaign has found that 75% of people with a mental health problem would be scared to tell a partner about it for the first time - which is the subject of this video. It's quite amusing - and has a happy ending!

Third Sector, 7 February
Case study: Mind and Rethink Mental Illness

The mental health charities have teamed up to run the Time to Change campaign, aimed at ending stigma about mental health in England

Time to Change is an ambitious £40m campaign run by the mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness with the aim of ending the stigma and discrimination about mental health in England.

The Big Lottery Fund and Comic Relief provided four-year funding of £16m and £4.5m respectively when it started in 2007. Last year, the Department of Health and Comic Relief granted it £16m and £4m respectively for a second phase until 2015.

The campaign, which is modelled on an initiative called Like Minds, Like Mine in New Zealand, aims to change attitudes and behaviour and puts emphasis on measuring impact.

January 2012

The Daily Telegraph, 18 January
Children urged to talk about depression

As the Deputy Prime Minister hosts a reception to celebrate the success of the first phase of Time to Change, new plans are unveiled around work targeted at Children and Young People.

Director of Time to Change, Sue Baker, said: "Today’s reception, with the recognition and support of the Deputy Prime Minster, marks a major milestone for Time to Change. Over the last four years we’ve started to witness changes in public attitudes and more importantly behaviour. However, none of this would have been possible without the thousands of people with mental health problems across England who have spoken out to combat the stigma that still plagues mental health; the funding and support of the Big Lottery Fund and Comic Relief; and the wide range of organisations that have added their voice to this movement.

“We have proved that change is possible. Over the next four years, with further funding from the Government and Comic Relief, our movement will work with new audiences including young people; one in ten children are affected by mental health problems, and sadly with that comes the terrible burden of stigma. We must make sure that people of all ages and in all communities feel able to openly discuss mental health issues with ease and the expectation of support and understanding. It will take more than a few years to overturn decades of prejudice - this is the work of a generation.”

Huffington Post
Andrew Flintoff's 'The Hidden Side of Sport': A powerful and Important Message

Time to Change supporter Joe Nickel reviews Freddie Flintoff's documentary on sport and depression.

December 2011

The Metro, 15 December
TfL says it's time to change

Transport for London has become the first company of its kind to sign the Time to Change pledge.

"Time to Change Director, Sue Baker, said: “We are delighted to see TfL leading the way and making a pledge to end mental health discrimination and challenge the stigma that still plagues an issue that affects one in four of us.  Every employee and customer of TfL will experience a mental health problem themselves or know someone who has, so it’s important we work together to raise awareness of the help available and encourage everyone to be more supportive and understanding.”

October 2011

The Independent on Sunday, 9 October
Mentally ill say the stigma is worse than the symptoms

Article on the launched of Phase 2 of the Time to Change Campaign.

Sue Baker, Director, Time to Change, comments: "Stigma and discrimination ruin lives by preventing people with mental health problems using their full potential and playing an active part in society.  In our survey, 60% of people in touch with our campaign said that the stigma they face can be as bad as or even worse than the mental illness itself and 27% said that stigma and discrimination have made them want to give up on life – in 2011 that is incredibly shocking.

"We have worked with thousands of people and organisations over the last four years to secure the beginnings of change and build a broad movement to finally tackle this damaging stigma.  But it takes more than four years to overturn decades of prejudice - this is the work of a generation.”

April 2011

The Guardian, 15 April  
Catherine Zeta-Jones’ courage praised as she reveals bipolar treatment

Article on actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, who has announced that she was being treated for bipolar disorder - including an interview with Time to Change Director Sue Baker:

'Sue Baker said Zeta-Jones's statement would make it easier for others to admit to their illness. "We already know the impact of Stephen Fry's documentary and how that helped people discuss the issue more openly." The danger, she said, is that members of the public start to believe depression or bipolar disorder is something only suffered by famous or creative people. "It can almost seem that this is the price of success, which is nonsense. Major life changes can have an impact on anybody's mental health and wellbeing." '

The Telegraph, 15 April 
Zeta Jones spoke of being enveloped by a 'dark cloud'

Article on Catherine Zeta-Jones included the following comment from Sue Baker:

'Sue Baker, director of Time to Change, which combats the stigma surrounding mental illness, said: "By being so frank about her diagnosis and treatment, Catherine will have helped to lift some of the burden of stigma which causes so much damage to so many lives." '

The Metro, 14 April
After Catherine Zeta-Jones treated: What is Bipolar II Disorder?

Sunday Mirror, 3 April
Frank Bruno interview: I've finally beaten my mental health demons

An exclusive interview with Frank Bruno and his daughter Rachel on his experience of mental illness and their support for the Time to Change campaign.

Frank says: “If there is one thing I’ve learned from my illness it is that there is no shame and no harm in saying you need help...Mental illness can happen to anybody. You can be a dustman, a politician, a Tesco worker… anyone. It could be your dad, your brother or your aunt. People need to have compassion for others.”

March 2011

The Sun, 31 March
Cricket ace’s positive spin on mental health

Article on cricketer Michael Yardy who left the world cup due to depression. The article focuses on Yardy’s disclosure and how this will have helped thousands of others experienced mental health problems. The article includes Time to Change's top tips on talking about mental health and links to our Facebook page.

The Daily Mirror, 25 March
Geoffrey Boycott angers mental health charities by criticising depressed player Michael Yardy

An article about Michael Yardy, which includes a quote from Sue Baker:

'Sue Baker of Time to Change, which aims to end mental health prejudice, said Boycott was “ill-informed” and added: “Depression is an illness and could happen to any of us.” '

The story was also covered in the Daily Express and the Daily Mail with comments from Time to Change.

February 2011

BBC London News 21 February 2011 (lunchtime and evening news bulletins)
Interview with Ruby Wax and Time to Change Director Sue Baker about Losing It – Ruby Wax’s new show.

Yorkshire Evening Post 16 February 2011
Mental health plea to RU fans – Rugby fans asked to look after their mental health
Rugby club Leeds Carnegie are backing the Time to Change campaign in Leeds.
  
Community Care mental health blog 9 February 2011
Leeds rugby team back anti-stigma campaign
Rugby club Leeds Carnegie are backing the Time to Change campaign in Leeds.

BBC Online 3 February 2011
The #whatstigma? Twitter campaign
News on the #whatstigma hashtag started by actress Rebecca Front on Twitter, including a quote from Time to Change Director Sue Baker.

Society Guardian 2 February 2011
An equal footing – Interview with Paul Burstow
Spotlight piece with Minister Paul Burstow on the launch of No Health Without Mental Health, the new mental health strategy. Mentions Time to Change and the government’s plans to part fund the campaign in the future.

Mental Health Practice 1 February 2011
Service users are inspired to imagine their goals
News on our Imagine Your Goals project in Merseyside.

Disability Now 1 February 2011
Media Watch – Boyle in hot water after gags
Coverage on the complaints made after Frankie Boyle’s controversial show, Tramadol Nights, mentioning our 'Schizo:The Movie' film.

January 2011 

Community Care 27 January 2011
Mental health discrimination still rife, finds report
Coverage of the Shaw Trust report into employers attitudes towards mental illness, which mentions Time to Change.

The Guardian 19 January 2011
Why the responsible reporting of mental health issues is so important
News on the Guardian journalist Mary O’Hara who will be sharing the findings of her soon-to-be published Fulbright Scholarship research into media coverage of mental health.

Society Guardian 19 January 2011
Black men opening up to combat mental health stigma
Feature on Maat Probe, one of our Open Up initiatives based in Sheffield. The group is pressing for changes in the way inpatients are restrained.