The roots of stigmatisation against people
with mental illness go back a long way. It has always been
dangerous to be different. But times are changing; discriminating
against people on the grounds of race, gender or beliefs is now
unacceptable to society, and often against the law.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists, the professional body for
all psychiatrists working in the UK and the Republic of Ireland,
has public education as one if its main objectives. Following its
highly successful "Defeat Depression" Campaign (1992 - 1996), the
College felt that its next campaign should be to tackle the problem
of stigmatisation of people with mental health problems.
In 1997 a working party was convened and a Strategy Document
produced. It proposed goals, content and structure for a five-year
long Campaign. The working party recommended that the Campaign
should focus on six of the most common mental health
problems:
- Anxiety - affects more than 1 person in 10
- Depression - affects 1 person in 4
- Schizophrenia - affects 1 person in 100
- Dementia - affects 1 person in 5 over 80
- Alcohol and drug addiction - affects about 1 person in 3
- Eating disorders - affects 1 person in 50
Target populations included doctors, children and young
people, employers, the media and the general public. The aims of
the Campaign were to increase public and professional understanding
of mental health problems and to reduce stigma and
discrimination.
"People suffering from mental disorders often
attract fear, hostility and disapproval, rather than compassion,
support and understanding," says Professor Arthur Crisp, Chairman
of the Changing Minds Campaign. "Such stigmatisation not only
causes people with mental health problems to feel isolated and
unhappy, but may also prevent them receiving help and
treatment."
Research carried out among the general public at the start of
the campaign in 1998 showed that stigmatising attitudes were
common. In particular:
- Many people believed that those suffering from depression
should "pull themselves together".
- People with schizophrenia and alcohol addiction were seen as
dangerous.
- Anyone with a mental health problem was considered "difficult
to talk to".
The results of this baseline survey were released at the
launch of the Changing Minds Campaign, on 7th October 1998.
During the following five years of the campaign, a substantial
Tool Kit of materials has been developed, to help change minds and
reduce stigma. The materials are available on this website
(
www.changingminds.co.uk). A
second website has been created by the Campaign at
www.stigma.org/everyfamily.
This provides in-depth articles about stigma by researchers,
academics, mental health service users and carers.
Following the official close of the Changing Minds Campaign on
7th October 2003, the College will continue to develop the campaign
website and distribute its publications. We are aware that tackling
the stigma of mental illness is an enduring task.