Responding to No Health Without Mental Health, the new strategy launched today by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and Minister Paul Burstow today (2 February). Sue Baker, Director of Time to Change, England's programme to end mental health discrimination, said:

"We welcome the news that the government plan to commit some funds to Time to Change in the future, along with the promise to tackle stigma and discrimination and place this "at the heart" of the new strategy. We also pleased to see recognition that, in order to achieve major social change, there needs to be a "major and sustained social movement"

"Time to Change has built a growing and confident social movement of hundreds of local and national organisations, from within and way beyond the mental health and social care sectors, with tens of thousands of people with mental health problems actively involved in addressing stigma and discrimination.

"Over the last three years we have witnessed a growing appetite from organisations not historically involved with mental health to engage with us, as they have begun to recognise the relevance of this issue for their staff, customers, supporters and patients.

"We see it as a further sign that, as a society, we are beginning to move in the right direction. This is echoed by the results of evaluation that shows some change in public attitudes and behaviour since the start of Time to Change.

"We see the implementation of the strategy as an opportunity to capitalise on these early gains and invest in longer term work to secure public behaviour change.  We also want to provide opportunities and support to a grassroots movement of people with mental health problems and local organisations to address stigma and discrimination within their own communities.

"We hope we will be able to work with the Department of Health on our shared objective to address stigma and reduce discrimination with all-age groups over the next four years, but this will need sufficient investment."

Time to Change is England's biggest and most ambitious programme to end mental health discrimination. The campaign is run by leading mental health charities Mind and Rethink, and backed by £16 million from the Big Lottery Fund and £4.5 million from Comic Relief.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Time to Change is England's most ambitious programme to end the discrimination faced by people with mental health problems, and improve the nation's wellbeing.  Mind and Rethink are leading the programme, funded with £16m from the Big Lottery Fund and £4m from Comic Relief, and evaluated by the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College, London. For further information go to www.time-to-change.org.uk

2. The Big Lottery Fund's support for Time to Change comes from its £165m Well-being programme.  The Big Lottery Fund has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004.  It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.  Full details of the work of the Big Lottery Fund, its programmes and awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888  / Out of hours: 07867 500 572 Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030 /
Textphone: 08456 021 659

3. Comic Relief is committed to supporting people living with mental health problems. The projects Comic Relief funds ensure people with mental health problems get their voices heard in the decisions that affect their lives and to get the help they need to recover. Comic Relief also helps people to promote their rights and reduce the stigma and discrimination they face so that they feel more included in society.  The £4 million grant to Time to Change is part of Comic Relief's long standing commitment to this issue. For more information go to www.comicrelief.com