I’m with all of you on this and it’s clear that there are some big names on board, which is always a useful starting point when considering any all-Wales campaign.

I too have lived with poor mental health for the best (or worst) part of 10 years, but have generally functioned to the point where I’ve managed to hold down, what I consider to be fairly good jobs. That’s not to say that other areas of my life haven’t suffered – they have, beyond all recognition.

I’m generally open about my condition, which doesn’t always meet with a favourable response but I’m lucky to have one or two particularly supportive friends and a supportive employer.

I do feel though, that the mental health sector in Wales is not working as effectively or cohesively as it could be. Even before the recession (which is a natural reason to work more co-operatively, share resources, work on joint funding bids etc), you could see that there were pockets of good practice around Wales but, perhaps, that it wasn’t being shared and implemented amongst organisations as well it could be, or that it wasn’t being promoted to the media and general public accordingly.

I don’t know much about the campaign in Scotland, but I find it galling whenever I see posts on Facebook or articles in the press from the England-only Time to Change campaign when we haven’t got a Welsh equivalent. The only obvious campaign that I could see on the Welsh Assembly’s website is ‘Talk to Me’ and while I’m not doubting the value of that campaign one iota, I wouldn’t say that it’s been promoted that widely, or regularly.

Arguably, Wales stands to gain the most, per capita, from an effective mental health sector and campaign than any of the other home regions – we keep hearing of the cost to the economy of poor mental health, so why isn’t the requisite response being made now, when it really would make a difference.

I don’t get on my soapbox that often, but I feel I had to say something. If Wales did have its own campaign, I would love to work on it in some capacity.

Cancer was once known as the big C as no one would talk about it. We need to do that about mental illness. It’s not scary, its just a form of illness that can be treated. Please help us lift this stigma.

I am a service user from the North of England and have been very publicly challenging stigma with some involvement with the time to change campaign. I don’t reconise any geograpical boundaries, so Hi Wales, from a like minded Geordie.

It would be great if there was a U.K. Wide message forum where every one in the U.K. could have the chance to interact, fighting each other’s causes.

I have my own web site http://www.odesofsurvival.co.uk where I share many of my experiences and challenge negative attitudes.

Regards

Paul Davidson

i)•To change public understanding, attitudes and behaviours so that the stigma and discrimination associated with mental ill health is eliminated ;
this first one is a big one. Maybe highlight Sir Winston churchill who suffered from depression, or other great figures.

ii)
•To enhance the ability of people to challenge stigma and discrimination

Educating them to how common mental health problems. Life changes and events can trigger this?

iii)•To ensure that all organisations value and include people with mental health problems and those who support them

this is a noble aim but it will be impossible to regulate or even formulate.

iv)•To improve media reporting of mental ill health
this is a tough one as well. I think Madeline Brindley on the Western Mail is a good journo but the rest of them you wouldnay wanna wipe your bum with them.

I personally think having celebs doing this sort of campaigns is a no no. Celebs are hardly steady eddy characters by and large . More down to earth people would be more powerful.

DM

Chair, Assembly’s All Party Group on Mental Health

I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that research paper after research paper has warned against the disastrous effect that mental illness has on the economy, let alone what it does to the individual. Coming on the day that it was revealed that attitudes in this country towards homosexuality – something that was also once stigmatised – have improved immeasurably, perhaps it is time for a real campaign to change opinion on mental illness.