Tackling mental health stigma through community

Introduction

When people come together with a shared interest or purpose, amazing things can happen – and we see that every day at See Me, Scotland’s national programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination.

We work with communities and groups across the country to better understand how we can work together to put an end to stigma and discrimination, through the See Us movement.

This week (12-18 May) is Mental Health Awareness Week, and the theme is community. Community plays an important part in improving mental health – whether that’s through social groups, sports clubs, in workplaces or through groups or movements where people share an interest. It can help increase connection, reduce loneliness and isolation, and give people a sense of belonging.

But it also plays an important part in addressing and breaking down the stigma that still surrounds mental health.

Understanding stigma

Mental health stigma – that’s negative attitudes or beliefs based on a preconception, misunderstanding or fear of mental health – and discrimination – when a person performs an action, whether intentional or unintentional, that creates barriers and inequality for people with lived experience of mental health problems – are major issues when it comes to people seeking and getting help with their mental health.

Whether they’ve been treated unfairly at work, their mental health is dismissed within their family, or they’ve seen negative headlines in the news, it can all have an impact – and quite often, it can cause people to withdraw rather than speak up when they’re experiencing poor mental health.

Back in 2022, See Me published the Scottish Mental Illness Stigma Study, a first of its kind piece of research for Scotland which explored stigma and discrimination for people with experience of complex, severe and enduring mental illness.

The research showed us that people are most likely to face stigma in relationships with family and friends, in healthcare services, on social media, in mental healthcare services, in the media and in employment. Some of these areas are the places where you’d expect to feel safe and supported; places where you spend a lot of time.

Some standout stats included:

• 92 per cent of participants said that they have experienced stigma in relationships with family and friends in the last year.
• Over half (53 per cent) said they respected themselves less because they will not recover or get better.
• Of those who had faced stigma in relationships, 82 per cent expected others would not want to be their friend due to their mental illness.

We know that this isn’t unique to communities in Scotland, and that people across the world are facing similar issues.

Tackling mental health stigma is foundational to better mental health for all – and it’s crucial that communities in Scotland, the UK and further afield prioritise tackling stigma for the sake of local people.

So where do you start when it comes to breaking down those barriers?

The role of education, social contact and protest

There’s lots that community leaders can do to create the change that so many people need, whether that’s through local government, grassroots groups or in your personal life.

Research has shown that taking action against mental health stigma and discrimination requires a three-pronged approach – using education, social contact and protest.

Education is central to tackling stigma. A lot of stigma and discriminatory behaviour stems from a lack of knowledge or understanding, and led by myths and misconceptions. By taking the time to expand your understanding of mental health, you’ll probably come across a few stereotypes you believe to be true. You can find out more about what the reality is really like for people who experience poor mental health. The See Me website has lots of resources to help expand your knowledge and improve your understanding of mental health stigma and discrimination.

Our It’s Okay to Talk resources are designed to help community groups and organisations feel more confident talking about mental health, and we’ve got some useful tips to help open up conversations too.

Social contact is when conversations happen between those who experience mental health problems and those who do not. Social contact can also extend to include listening to, watching or reading about someone’s experiences. Social contact works because it focuses on the people, not the labels of mental illness. This means that negative assumptions and attitudes are challenged, in turn reducing stigma.

Within your community, why not explore work that’s already underway in the anti-stigma space? Connect with local groups and organisations and map out a way to work together meaningfully.

This could also provide an opportunity to run an event or activity. Walk a Mile events are popular with communities across Scotland’s See Us movement, encouraging people to get out in the outdoors and have a conversation about mental health.

The idea of protest doesn’t necessarily involve placards and petitions, but it definitely can. Some forms of protest are of a smaller scale, and it is possible to make these small, individual protests and still have an impact. Things like boycotting, petitions and speaking out against inequalities are all ways to protest.

Protests work because they get lots of people rallied around a shared cause and put pressure on decision makers or organisers to change.

Protest could also take the form of showing your support on social media for campaigns from organisations like See Me or other anti-stigma programmes and mental health charities in your area.

Further action

Alongside these three key elements, it’s important to lead by example – and to show your local community that you’re committed to ending mental health stigma. That might involve taking a look workplace policies or practices, committing to further training for staff, and sharing those plans with local people. We’ve got tools, resources and information to help you get started on the See Me website.

Look at your own actions and attitudes too – straightforward things like adapting your language when talking about mental health and being mindful of the power of your words can have a big impact on those around you.

If your community can see you want to make a difference, it will give them a bit more faith – and maybe even confidence to seek help or speak out about their own mental health.

If we’ve learned anything in over two decades of See Me in Scotland, it’s that one person asking for change has the potential to make an impact. But finding others with a shared passion and ambition is key to making a difference. It makes your voice louder, your reach wider and your impact, much, much bigger. By working together, supporting one another, sharing our learning and offering advice, we can go so much further.

If you’re feeling inspired and want to make a change through your work or local community, head to the See Me website to find out how you can be a part of the See Us movement, and access the tools and resources you need to make a difference.