‘Smashing’ the stigma over mental health

9:30am Sunday 10th April 2011

A PETITION aiming to challenge stigma in mental health has smashed its target of collecting 100,000 pledges over 12 months.

5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust first launched its Sticks and Stones campaign on April 1, last year, with the support of comedian Stephen Fry.

The trust has since managed to get 106,211 signatures and celebrated this with an awards ceremony at its annual service user and carers conference in Knowsley last Thursday.

While the morning session centred around the trust’s new mental health strategy, the afternoon focused on Sticks and Stones and included presentations by chairman Bernard Pilkington and campaign supporters Arena Housing and St Gregory’s Catholic High School.

Certificates of appreciation went to the trust’s pharmacy team, recovering anorexic Rachael Johnston, from Great Sankey, and the Sheridan ward, which looks after women at Hollins Park Hospital, Winwick.

Chief executive Simon Barber said: “The fact that so many members of the public, carers, schools and celebrities have signed shows that there is no place for stigma in our communities.

“We will now look at how we can support those employers and schools who have signed on behalf of their staff and pupils to continue to deliver on the pledges they have made.”

Overall, the campaign aimed to educate people about the realities of mental health problems and learning disabilities and to ask them to make a pledge not to use words that can hurt, offend and stigmatise people suffering from these often distressing conditions.

Support also came from Warrington Borough Council, NHS Warrington, the Environment Agency, NorthWest Development Agency and the Warrington Guardian.

Celebrities such as comedian Paul O’Grady and actress Lynda Bellingham helped to attract national publicity, while political backing came from Prime Minister David Cameron and David Mowat, MP for Warrington South.

Boxer Frank Bruno, cricketer Marcus Trescothick, Everton team captain Phil Neville and Warrington Wolves all signed the petition.

The trust has developed lesson plans and teaching resources to assist schools in delivering lessons on mental health to youngsters.

http://www.thisischeshire.co.uk/news/8959927.___Smashing____the_stigma_over_mental_health/