News release, 6 July 2007
News that public attitudes towards people with mental health problems are less sympathetic today than in 1994 should concern anyone who wants to see a fairer, more productive society. It should also worry the government, who have spent millions of pounds trying to tackle stigma and discrimination against those that live with a mental illness.
While this effort is commendable, the government needs to recognise that information campaigns alone do not reduce the ignorance, prejudice and discrimination that lead to the stigma that surrounds mental illness. The evidence, summarised in our 2006 report Actions Speak Louder, shows that bringing people into direct contact with people who use mental health services, whilst building strong civil rights mechanisms to protect the vulnerable, are the best ways to achieve real change. If we are to reverse the current trends in public attitudes then some bold decisions by government policy makers will be required.
The media also have their part to play. It is vital that the popular perception of the mentally ill as dangerous is challenged rather than supported in the media. The majority of homicides are committed by people without a mental illness, yet often receive less media attention. It should be noted that media reports stimulated by the recent Mental Health Bill were often unhelpful in this regard, as the debate surrounding the bill was so often framed in terms of public safety, rather than service-user recovery and well-being. Scare mongering in the public arena also dissuades people from acknowledging their private problems, perhaps explaining that while 1 in 4 experience a mental health problem in any given year, only 1 in 10 seek help.
Ends
Notes to editors:
The Department of Health’s report found that 11% fewer people than in 1994 would be happy to live next door to someone who had been mentally ill, while 8% fewer favoured a more tolerant attitude towards those who suffer from mental illness. There has been a 5% increase in those describing mentally ill people as prone to violence since 2003.
The Department of Health’s report can be found at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsStatistics/DH_076516
The Mental Health Foundation released a report on tackling the stigma around mental illness, Actions Speak Louder, in 2006. The evidence shows that bringing people into contact with those that have had a mental health problem and introducing touch anti-discrimination practices are the most effective ways to counter stigma. Read the report at:
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/?q=640392,Actions%20Speak%20Louder,&EntryId=43107
Please contact Simon Loveland on 020 7803 1130 with any queries or e-mail sloveland@mhf.org.uk (Out of hours press office number – 07967 586489.) Visit our website at www.mentalhealth.org.uk.
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