Young people with mental health problems experience discrimination
Almost one in 10 young people in the West Midlands think that children with mental health problems should not be at their school, according to a survey by Time to Change.
Time to Change is the anti stigma programme run by mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.
The survey of 1,000 young people aged between 14 and 18-years-old also found that one in 10 young people would stop being friends with a classmate who had a mental health problem.
Nine out of 10 young people with mental health problems in the West Midlands felt affected by stigma and have experienced negative treatment as a result of their mental health problem. They experienced discrimination from friends, parents and teachers or lecturers.
‘Time to Change’ have launched a new pilot campaign which features a film called ‘The Stand Up Kid’ which is part of a wider pilot project launched in June which aims to end discrimination and stigma faced by young people with mental health problems.
‘The Stand Up Kid’ aims to inspire young people in the West Midlands, particularly those who have no understanding of mental health problems, to change their attitudes towards others who are affected by mental illness.
Michael Crump, aged 18 from Birmingham said: “I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 13 and have faced all types of stigma over the years. Mainly, other classmates making fun of me and the symptoms of my illness. It had a huge effect on my confidence and can be one of the hardest parts of dealing with a mental health problem.
“Many young people pick on you because they don’t understand and it can be really difficult to explain unless you’ve been through it yourself. Stand Up Kid will help to spread the message that mental health problems are the same as any other illness – you need help and support to recover,” Michael added.
The 18-month pilot programme will work with local schools to deliver a schools programme education programme co-delivered by young people with mental health problems and their parents, community events and community projects that will join together young people with and without mental health problems in order to tackle stigma.
To find out more about the pilot project visit the website.
