Transcript Document

Johannes Parkkonen
Senior Campaign Development Officer
29 May 2008
07/11/2007
Outline
• Why to tackle stigma and discrimination
• Who is ‘see me’
• Early years of the campaign
• Where are we now
• Personality disorders and stigma
• What can we all do to challenge stigma and
discrimination
Why Challenge Stigma and
Discrimination?
David Dempster, Easterhouse
When I was off work with a broken leg I got loads of support from the fire brigade. Crew
were always dropping by, so much so there was almost always a fire engine outside the
house! When I went off sick with depression there was nothing. Not one card, call or
visit. I had to prove I was ill by undergoing two additional medicals. Then, when I was
well again, the fire service didn’t want me back... in any capacity. Twenty years of
service and expertise written off! ...It’s time for every one of us to help create a climate
in which we can all talk openly about mental health problems, get help when we need it
and get rid of the negative attitudes which belong in the past.
“I would love to go out more places such as the
local pub and library but I am too frightened to in
case I am dangerous. I have never been
dangerous but you read about schizophrenics
being dangerous all the time in the paper, so I
thought that because I have schizophrenia that I
would be dangerous if I went out”
Danny, Ayr
‘see me….’
• Formed in 2002 by an alliance of five mental health
organisations
• Run by a management group of alliance members
• Fully funded by the Scottish Government since 2002
• Key aim is to eliminate the stigma and discrimination of
mental ill-health
• Target audience is the Scottish general public
• Integrated communications agency
• Eight staff – based in Edinburgh
• High profile national identity and a flexible resource for
local action
‘see me….’
PROCESS:
• Taking time to get it right
• Involvement of those with mental health problems and
carers
• Starting from where the public IS – rather than where we
think they are
• Using the ‘first person voice’ as the focus of our campaign
• Not admonishing the public – showing negative impact of
stigma and ways forward for positive support
Initial focus on the general public
Followed by particular emphasis on Employers
and Workplace & Children and Young People
Where are we now?
• Increased awareness and understanding of MHPs
• People more confident to talk about mental health
problems
• 1 in 4 message understood also “it could happen to
anyone”
• Recognition that most people recover
• Decrease in negative reporting
• Evidence that attitudes are changing
Public Attitudes Survey 2002 - 2006
50
45
If I had a mental health
problem, I wouldn't want
people knowing about it
40
35
The public should be
better protected from
people with mental
health problems
People with mental
health problems are
often dangerous
30
25
20
15
I would find it hard to talk
to someone with a
mental health problem
10
5
0
2002
2004
2006
%
Feeling able to be more open and talk
about MHP
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Total
With MHP
Supporters
Some/A lot
A little
No
Source: A fairer future 2007
Have you told anyone about your mental
health problem, apart from your doctor or any
other health professionals?
Yes - family/friends
Yes - boss at work
Yes - work colleagues
Yes - people I don't know well
Yes - Tutor at Uni
No. I have told no-one
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100
%
Source: PAS 2006
Situation where stigma experienced
Total
%
% With
MHP
Supporters
%
53
50
53
46
44
37
Local community
24
18
29
Mental health/other health services
17
13
18
Education or training
17
12
18
Financial institutions
13
10
15
Government agencies and local government services
12
9
12
Parenting
10
6
12
Sports clubs/organised activities
6
4
15
Another situation
17
16
15
Friends and family
Employment
Source: A fairer future 2007
The Challenge
Attitude Change
Behaviour Change
‘see me’s model of societal
change
07/11/2007
Speed of success dependent on audience and
complexity of mental health issues
‘see me’s model of societal
change
07/11/2007
Personality Disorder and Stigma
•
•
Need to build more comprehensive knowledge base
Hear Me! Survey in 2006 indicated that stigma is particularly
high for PD:
– Highest stigma experience – 94% (81% average)
– 70% experienced stigma among friends/family (53%)
– 58% in employment (46%)
– 43% in local community (24%) – schizophrenia was
higher at 48%
– 51% in mental health/other health services (24%)
– 89% self-stigma or situation avoiding (82%)
– Lowest % who thought situation got better; highest % who
thought it got worse compared to 2002
Why the high stigma?
•
Several possibilities:
– People with PD may also experience other MHP; more
likely to experience stigma
– Social isolation/rejection due to alterations in
behaviour/offensive traits that accompany some PDs
– Experience in health service hampered by poor diagnostic
criteria; resulting in prejudice
– Poor & insensitive media reporting on more complex MHP
(e.g. “Killer-soldier jury is told of ‘disorder’”, P&J, 14/3/07)
– The above, and general lack of awareness, creating fear
of unknown?
• “Lost” personality = non-capacity to control one’s
actions?
What can YOU do?
• Sign the ‘see me’ Pledge
• Display campaign materials & take the message out to
wider community
• Become a Media Volunteer
• Stigma Stop Watch – Challenge individual incidents of
stigma in the media/popular culture
• Join the campaign activity and discussions on the website
• Use the ‘see me’ toolkit (available later in 2008)
• Keep us informed of activities & research
“The man sitting next to me on the train
made me nervous because he was
looking at his reflection in the window
and talking to himself. But he turned
round to me and said that it was OK
because he had schizophrenia and was
just talking to the voices he could hear.
I felt fine after that.” Louise, Markinch
(age 15)
Thank You!
'see me' - Let's stop the stigma of mental ill-health
9-13 Maritime Street
Edinburgh
EH6 6SB
Telephone: 0131 624 8945
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.seemescotland.org & www.justlikeme.org.uk
'see me' is run by an Alliance of five mental health organisations and is
fully funded by the Scottish Government's National Programme for
Improving Mental Health and Well-being.