A scheme aimed at reducing mental health stigma and discrimination is seeking volunteers from the Western Isles.
See Me, the national programme to end mental health discrimination, wants to discover how stigma is affecting the lives of islanders experiencing mental health conditions.
They are looking for people to become “community champions,” to run anti-
The champions, who have personal experience of mental health conditions, go through a four day training programme, carried out over six months, to develop skills to target the areas where issues exist.
Volunteers sought to tackle mental health stigma
30 May 2015
Richard Monaghan, one of See Me’s first champions, based in Moffat, wanted to make
a change because he felt there was a reluctance to talk about mental health, which
led to a build-
His first step was to hold a fundraising coffee morning last month. Over 200 people attended and £1500 was raised for charity.
Mr Monaghan said: “Mental health problems don’t discriminate, they attack anybody and everybody.
“Champions’ training opened my eyes to being a mental health activist and it put me in touch with likeminded people who had undergone similar experiences.
“I hope the champions will be able to change the way we look at mental health and if not eliminate stigma and discrimination then certainly reduce it drastically.”
Rebekah Moore from See Me said: “We know that two out of three people with mental health conditions stop some day to day activities for fear of stigma and discrimination. This is unacceptable and limits people’s opportunity to lead fulfilled lives.
“The programme empowers people to become leaders in their local area, who can inspire communities to take action against stigma and discrimination.
“It creates more connected and healthier communities where people with mental health problems are supported.
“This is particularly important in rural areas where social isolation can exacerbate mental health problems.”
For information on applying visit www.seemescotland.org