Two projects that tackle mental health discrimination will continue after Time to Change, the mental health anti-stigma programme run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, has been awarded further funding from the Big Lottery Fund (BlG).
Time to Change, which is now in its second phase, has received just over £467,000 to develop a training programme for GP surgery staff that builds on work done in earlier years. The funding will also ensure the continuation of the Active Minds community project in Croydon.
The new plans will see Time to Change focusing on education and training for healthcare professionals working in primary care settings to change their behaviour and attitudes towards mental health. Primary care is the point at which most people with mental health problems access services and support.
Results from the training already completed found that of all primary care staff that were asked whether they would be willing to work with someone who had a mental health problem, 76 per cent of them agreed before the training and 92% agreed afterwards.
The second scheme that will benefit from this funding is the award-winning Active Minds project, based at Mind in Croydon. The project supports people with mental health problems to take part in healthy lifestyle activities, not only to improve their physical and mental health and resilience, but also to break down the stigma surrounding mental illness by getting people involved in their local community.
Many of the healthy lifestyle sessions are held at a community boxing gym run by former World Boxing Champion Duke McKenzie, who encourages anyone from the community to join in, whether they have mental health problems or not. Evidence suggests that this type of ‘social contact’ between people with and without mental health problems can be a powerful way of breaking down negative attitudes.
Leigh Bailey, who took part in the project when experiencing severe depression, said:
“Being in a group with the others on the programme was a real comfort. Building relationships through the group was a massive confidence boost. It was as though the exercise helped to regulate my body and mind. I started going out more, felt more comfortable interacting with other people, and better able to cope with life.
“Now I am training to be a boxing coach. I’m reducing my medication and feel I’m leading a full life.”
Another person who has benefited from the project said: “Since going to boxercise, my bubble’s got bigger. I felt safe there. If I had a panic attack I knew people would understand because they’ve had similar experiences. I still see people from the group, I’ve made good friends and if I’m having a bad day, I can ring them and know they’ll care.”
Sue Baker, Director of Time to Change, said: “We know from evaluation data that whilst the public are starting to change their attitudes and behaviour towards people with mental health problems, health professionals are not changing their practice. The results of the impact of this training will help us set up an evidenced-based training package that commissioners could fund in the future.
“Croydon Mind’s work has been an outstanding example of how to improve wellbeing and confidence levels through a programme of regular physical activity. We are delighted that they will have another year to deliver the benefits of their project to more people in Croydon, and promote this to local commissioners in order to continue to bring huge benefits to local people with mental health problems.”
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For more information please contact Hayley Richardson, Time to Change Senior Media Officer, on [email protected] or 0208 2152 358/ 07789 721 966
Notes to Editors
Time to Change
Time to Change is England's most ambitious programme to end the stigma and discrimination faced by people with mental health problems. The programme is run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, and funded by the Department of Health and Comic Relief.
For more information go to www.time-to-change.org.uk
Department of Health
On 2 February 2011 the Department of Health launched No health without mental health, a cross-government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages which has the twin aims of keeping people well and improving their mental health and, when people are not well, improving their outcomes through high-quality services.
The strategy is based on six shared objectives, developed with partners from across the mental health sector, and focuses on ‘Recovery’ and the reduction of stigma and discrimination as overarching themes.
To help deliver the objective to reduce the stigma faced by people with mental health problems, in 2011 the Department agreed to support Time to Change, the anti-stigma campaign run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. The Department of Health is providing the campaign with up to £16 million of funding together with a further £4 million from Comic Relief. This funding will help Time to Change continue their work until March 2015.
Comic Relief
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 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 the second time the charity has awarded Time to Change its largest UK grant and is part of Comic Relief's long standing commitment to this issue. For more information go to www.comicrelief.com