1 in 4 people will suffer a mental health problem and face discrimination.

In 2010 after suffering from mental illness for many years, I teamed up with Time to Change see the website here https://www.time-to-change.org.uk

Time to Change is a national campaign set up to fight and eliminate the stigma around mental health, it is run by the charities Mind and Rethink. It works across schools, employers, the media and communities. It aims is to foster a growing social movement to change and how we think and act about mental health.

Councillor Averil Lekau, Cabinet Member for Adults Health and Social Care said:

“Too many people are made to feel ashamed or isolated because they have a mental health issue, yet one in four of us will experience some type of mental health problem this year. Many people with experience of mental ill-health say the stigma is worse than the problem itself.

I commend the work of our local Time to Change Champions, who are challenging the issue of stigma through conversations in our local communities. Sharing their own experiences of mental health can really help to break the silence and shame on the subject”

On Monday the 18th of November, a team of local people acting as Time to Change Champions spent an afternoon at IKEA in Charlton. They were dotted throughout the store in IKEA’S show living rooms and kitchens, ready to chat with anyone who was interested and even offering creative activities for people to enjoy whilst having a chat. They shared their experiences of mental health with customers and took part in a mini-play to raise awareness of how people misunderstand what mental health problems look like. Outreach workers from Charlton Athletic and OXLEAS NHS were there to support the champions and provide healthy lifestyle information and support to the public. The champions are from our Greenwich hub.

Local hubs campaign with local knowledge to support communities' workplaces, and schools to end the negative stigma and attitudes towards people with mental health and have lived experience.

Royal Greenwich and partners are supporting Time to Change to address the important issue of mental health stigma. If you have experienced a mental health problem and would like to get involved in becoming a Time to Change champion for Greenwich. Find out more by emailing timetochange@royalgreenwich.gov.uk