Join Time to Change on May 4 and make a pledge to help stamp out mental health prejudice in Norwich

Time to Change is England’s most ambitious programme to end the stigma and discrimination faced by people who experience mental health problems. Time to Change and local project Stuff Stigma are asking people in Norwich to join celebrities like Frank Bruno, Trisha Goddard, Mel C, and Gok Wan in helping to end mental health prejudice by attending a special visual pledge event at The Forum, Millenium Plain on May 4 from 11am to 6pm.

So far, almost 5000 people across England have pledged to do their bit to help end mental health prejudice at www.time-to-change.org.uk and we’d love to take that number higher. The regional pledge event in Norwich, which will also take place in Leeds and Nottingham on 12th and 13th May, will be a great opportunity to show support for Time to Change and also someone you know with a mental health problem.

The fun-filled day will feature the chance to add your pledge and photo on the spot to a giant mosaic pledge board or make a video pledge, a ‘help us achieve our goal’ football activity, and great entertainment provided by Community Music East. Whether you pledge to support a friend or family member who has a mental health problem, speak out about your own experiences of mental health problems, or pledge to attend a Time to Get Moving event in October, just come down and get pledging!

So far, celebrity pledges have included:

Trisha Goddard:
“Almost 25 years ago I pledged I’d do the utmost to get rid of the shame surrounding my sister’s mental illness. Then 16 years ago I pledged to refuse to be ashamed about my own mental health problems. I continue to pledge to shine bright light into dark corners of ignorance.”

Frank Bruno:
“As a boxer, you can always see the opponent you’re fighting. Mental health problems, and people’s narrow-mindedness about them, are not so easy to see. That’s why I pledge to support Time to Change – to help make this issue visible and something we can all fight together.”

Gok Wan:
“I’m pledging my support to Time to Change, because it’s time we all understood more about mental health problems and how we can support friends and family.”

Mel C:
“Mental health issues are just part of life and people can and do recover to lead full and successful lives. I’m pledging my support to help end mental health prejudice. When will you?”

By taking the campaign to the people of Norwich it creates opportunities for people with mental health problems, and those who have not been affected, to talk about the issues face to face. This will help those involved overcome the stigma and misunderstanding of a health issue that affects one in four people. The pledge is an important tool in the fight against mental health stigma and discrimination.

Oz Osborne, from Stuff Stigma, says:

“The Stuff Stigma project has many supporters throughout Norwich and Norfolk but the challenge of combating mental health prejudice and discrimination needs to be stepped up. This event will be another bold offering from the people of Norfolk to demand a change in public attitudes towards people who have experience of mental health difficulties. ”

Sue Baker, Portfolio Director at Time to Change, says:

“We know that face to face contact with someone who has experienced a mental health problem, who can talk openly and confidently about it, is key to transforming our understanding and attitudes. Today’s events are a critical step in our journey to make mental health less of a taboo – much like cancer was thirty years ago. Many famous faces are behind our campaign, but we need everyday people like us to speak out as well.”

Time to Change was launched in January 2009 with a national advertising campaign fronted by Stephen Fry, Ruby Wax and Alastair Campbell. This year, the campaign is fronted by Frank Bruno and Trisha Goddard and includes the cinema release of ‘Schizo:the Movie’, a spoof movie trailer, which shows that people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia can live full lives with the support of their friends and family. Schizo will be shown across England for four weeks from April 23rd 2010.

The Time to Change [1] campaign is England’s biggest and most ambitious programme to end mental health discrimination. The campaign is run by leading mental health charities Mind and Rethink, and backed by £16 million from the Big Lottery Fund [2] and £4 million from Comic Relief [3].

Notes

1. Time to Change is England’s most ambitious programme to end the discrimination faced by people with mental health problems, and improve the nation’s wellbeing. Mind and Rethink are leading the programme, funded with £16m from the Big Lottery Fund and £4m from Comic Relief, and evaluated by the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College, London. For further information go to www.time-to-change.org.uk

2. The Big Lottery Fund’s support for Time to Change comes from its £165m Well-being programme. The Big Lottery Fund has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006. Full details of the work of the Big Lottery Fund, its programmes and awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888 / Out of hours: 07867 500 572 Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030 /
Textphone: 08456 021 659

3. Comic Relief is committed to supporting people living with mental health problems. The projects Comic Relief funds ensure people with mental health problems get their voices heard in the decisions that affect their lives and
to get the help they need to recover. Comic Relief also helps people to promote their rights and reduce the stigma and discrimination they face so that they feel more included in society. The £4 million grant to Time to Change is part of Comic Relief’s long standing commitment to this issue. For more information go to www.comicrelief.com

For further information visit www.nwmhft.nhs.uk or call 01603 421494.