Today, results published by Time to Change, the mental health anti-stigma programme, has shown that the attitudes and behaviour of young people relating to mental health problems can be shifted, and discrimination can be reduced. Evaluation of a pilot project aimed at 14 to 18 year olds in the West Midlands shows positive shifts in attitudes of young people, parents and guardians and youth professionals.
Over an 18-month period there was a 1.3 per cent improvement in attitudes of 14 to 18 year olds and a 6 per cent reduction in discrimination [1]. The research also found that the confidence and empowerment of young people with experience of mental health problems to challenge stigma for themselves increased by nearly 7 per cent. Furthermore, half of all young people surveyed regardless of whether they had experienced a mental health problem, agreed that attitudes have changed around mental illness in Birmingham.
Time to Change, which is run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, launched the pilot in the West Midlands in April 2012 to find out what impact a focused programme of work to reach 14 to 18 year olds could have. These results and learnings from this first pilot are being taken forward in the next pilot area, the South East with a focus on Kent & Medway, which launched this month.
As part of the West Midlands pilot project, 60 young people with personal experience of mental health problems were involved at every level. They were trained and supported to co deliver education sessions, speak to the media, help evaluate the project and volunteer at events. Other instrumental work that took place in the region included; a social marketing campaign including the three minute film 'Stand Up Kid' aimed at young people aged 14 to 18; an education programme aimed at youth professionals and volunteers, co-delivered by young people with personal experience of mental health problems; and community events in the region including ‘pop up villages’ in schools that encourage conversations to happen about mental health in typical village settings.
Further work also saw qualitative and quantitative research being conducted with over 500 parents and guardians to look at how they view themselves as influencers in their children’s lives. The results found that parents recognised their responsibility in shaping attitudes but felt unsure how to do this as they believed their children and other young people knew more about mental health problems than they did. The research also found that parents are unsure about how or where to have these conversations with time being very limited in hectic family life. Using the results from this study a range of information and advice for parents was developed as part of the project.
Jo Loughran, Head of Time to Change children and young people’s programme, said: “These evaluation results have shown us that it is possible to transform the attitudes of young people in relation to mental health, in order to shape the next generation. One in 10 young people will experience a mental health problem, that’s three people in every classroom, and it’s crucial that support is available when they need it, without fear of stigma and discrimination.
“In general, young people seem to engage well with the idea of challenging unfairness so we are looking forward to delivering more anti-stigma work over the next 18 months with our army of young people by our side.”
Although work in Kent and the South East has begun there will be an official launch event on Tuesday 5 November at The Oval in London. Much like the work in the West Midlands, activity in Kent and Medway will include; a social marketing campaign; Time to Change Village events; ‘Train the Trainer’ sessions with stakeholders and parents; and work to encourage organisations to sign the Time to Change pledge , committing to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination in the workplace.
In addition to this, Time to Change has received extra funding from Big Lottery Fund to offer a programme of activities, based on elements of the pilot campaign, to five secondary schools per term across five new regions. Schools will be asked to develop an action plan to provide a year long anti-stigma programme that will reach all students.
To find out more about Time to Change’s work with Children and Young people please visit www.time-to-change.org.uk/get-involved/resources-youth-professionals
Ends/
Notes to Editors
1. The completion survey was undertaken by SPA Future Thinking for Time to Change before the Time to Change Young People’s pilot among 1,026 14 – 17 year olds (May – July 2012) and after the pilot phase with 1,416 (April – June 2013) in Birmingham and the West Midlands. The survey also covered stakeholders (e.g. siblings aged 18 – 24, parents and a wide range of adults working in a professional capacity with children), with 1,207 (pre stage) and 1,169 (post stage) completing an on-line survey.
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, Comic Relief and the Big Lottery Fund.
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 and £3.6 million from the Big Lottery Fund. 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
Big Lottery Fund
Big Lottery Fund supported the first phase of Time to Change with funding of over £20million, and in 2013 awarded the programme a further £3.6m from its Well-being programme to build on its success and work with targeted communities. Big Lottery Fund also supported the campaign’s roll out across Wales.
The largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, Big Lottery Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has awarded close to £6bn to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since 2004. For full details of the Big Lottery Fund's work visit: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk