People in the Western Isles are being called on to help change how mental health is viewed in 2015.
See Me, the national programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination, is asking people to join together and take direct action to change negative behaviour when they see it.
This could include joining the programme in tackling stigma on social media or putting up a See Me poster in their work and encouraging discussion on mental health, so people with poor mental health know they aren’t alone.
Even though one in four people will experience mental health problems negative attitudes and behaviours are still too common.
Latest statistics show that 47 per cent of people wouldn’t want anyone to know if they were experiencing poor mental health and that 37 per cent of people with mental health problems have experienced discrimination socially.
Judith Robertson, See Me programme director, said: “New year is the ideal time to make changes to your own behaviour, or work to help others in making a change.
“There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure everyone is treated equally, with dignity and respect.
“People with mental health problems are less likely to be in work, die on average
of 5-
Ms Robertson added: “Stigma and discrimination can make people who are mentally unwell feel worse. It can stop them asking for help and ultimately could be the difference between life and death.
“No one should ever be made to feel ashamed or embarrassed to tell anyone that they experience mental health problems.
“To help this we want people to make their resolution joining us and sharing their positive stories with us, looking at what works in challenging stigma.”
Changes for mental health in the New Year
3 January 2015