In response to comments made in the media today, Sue Baker, Director of Time to Change, the mental health anti-stigma campaign run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, said:

“It’s as unacceptable to trade insults on the basis of someone’s mental health experiences as it would be on the basis of their race, gender or sexuality. Kevan has been widely praised for opening up about his experiences and helping to make big strides against stigma, particularly in parliamentary circles. We know that many people still feel uncomfortable talking about their mental health problems, and we would encourage everyone to consider the impact of using mental health related language that could fuel misunderstanding and stigma.”