Life without stigma means we all get to live it. It's time for change.
Being able to speak openly with family members, partners or those closest to us, and to respond non-judgmentally and supportively, is vital when it comes to mental health.
If we are worried about our mental health, fear of experiencing negative responses from those closest to us can delay us seeking support when we need it. We might also delay reaching out to other supports if family aren’t available, such as health services or local supports.
It’s important to remember mental health supports and services are available, and many have adapted to offer more telephone and online supports.
If you are worried about your own mental health, you can find helpful inform. You can find guidance on how to support a loved one with mental health difficulties through our family information series.
Let's not let stigma get in the way
- We don’t delay talking to others if we are worried about our mental health
- We can support each other sooner rather than later when it’s needed
- We can take the first step to recovery sooner, if we are experiencing mental health difficulties
- We feel comfortable reaching out for accessible support from home - for example, through helplines, our GP or other local supports - when we need it.
Why does this matter?
- Nearly two in five of us would tell a friend if we were having suicidal thoughts; let’s make sure we all feel able to turn to someone close when we most need to.
- More than three in five of us would tell a partner if we had previously received inpatient care for a mental health difficulty: let's remove any fear or worry about talking about our mental healthcare.
- Almost one in five of us has experienced or had a family member experience discrimination within their family due to mental health difficulties: let's act now so that nobody goes through this.
You can be a part of this: help us build our voice to change our attitudes and behaviours around mental health once and for all.
These figures come from our Annual Stigma and Attitudes Survey 2020.
Continue to…
Life without stigma in the community
