Rethink: Time to Change: Celebrities pledge to help end mental health prejudice

Monday, 19 April 2010 12:00 AM

Boxer Frank Bruno, television presenter Trisha Goddard and comedian Ruby Wax have joined a host of other well-known celebrities including Patsy Palmer, Mel C, Gok Wan and Trevor Nelson in making a pledge to help end mental health prejudice for the next exciting stage of the Time to Change [1] campaign, which begins on Monday April 19.

Frank Bruno, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2003, said that as a boxer he could always see the opponent he was fighting; however mental health problems, and people's narrow-mindedness about them, are not so easy to see.

"Some people don't want to know you anymore," the former heavyweight champion said when asked about the reaction to his diagnosis. "They delete you, rub you out. One in four people will have some kind of mental health problem. It can happen to anyone; milkmen, lawyers even boxers. That's why I pledge to support Time to Change - to help make this issue visible and something we can all fight together."

Led by charities Mind and Rethink and backed by £16 million from the Big Lottery Fund [2] and £4 million from Comic Relief [3], Time to Change is England's most ambitious programme to end the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness.

This year, Time to Change is encouraging the whole of England to recognise that it's often the little things we say or do that can add to the prejudice surrounding mental health problems, and it's up to all of us to make small changes in our lives that will make a real difference to those we know with a mental illness. To start that change, Time to Change has launched a brand new online pledge at www.time-to-change.org.uk where the public can make their own personal pledge and add their photo to the thousands of faces who have so far supported the campaign.

Sue Baker, Director of Time to Change, said: "Mental illness is one of our society's last and most powerful taboos. We hope that the celebrities pledging their support will lead the way in showing the British public that ending mental health prejudice is something we all have a role to play in. Taking small actions to change the way we respond to the one in four of us who will experience a mental health problem would make a huge difference."

Trisha Goddard, who along with Frank Bruno is fronting the Time to Change campaign and has pledged to combat mental health prejudice, also has personal experience with mental
illness including time as an in-patient in a psychiatric hospital and a sister with schizophrenia who took her own life. Like Bruno, Goddard had similar negative responses from those around her; a vastly different reaction compared to the support she received following a diagnosis of breast cancer.

"When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was inundated with 'Get Well Soon' cards. When news leaked out that I was in a psychiatric hospital following a breakdown, not a peep. And certainly no cards," she said. "Both experiences were horrible. But with breast cancer, people ran towards me with open arms and hugged me. With depression, people ran away.

"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."

Ruby Wax, a long-time supporter of Time to Change, has also added her pledge at www.time-to-change.org: "I'm pledging to talk openly about my mental health issues and to help get people talking about the 'M' word. Mental health problems are so common, it could be anyone. The trouble is no one wants to talk about it."

Gok Wan has also pledged his support for the Time to Change campaign. "It's time we all understood more about mental health problems and how we can support friends and family", as has Patsy Palmer: "When I had a mental health problem, I was frightened to tell people about it, because I thought they might treat me differently or think I couldn't cope. But people with mental health problems shouldn't be treated any differently to anyone else. That's why I'm pledging to help end mental health prejudice."

In addition to the online Time to Change Pledge, the month-long national Time to Change campaign features the nationwide cinema release of a hard-hitting movie trailer 'Schizo: The Movie' on April 23, and outdoor and online advertising in which Frank Bruno and Trisha Goddard speak out about the stigma and discrimination they have experienced as a result of their mental health problems.

To make your pledge to end mental health prejudice today, please visit www.time-to-change.org.uk.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, COMMENT AND CASE STUDIES CALL
Olivia Deskoski, PR Manager on 020 7840 3137 or email olivia.deskoski@rethink.org
For out of office hours call 07587 133156

NOTES TO EDITORS

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. The leading mental health charities Mind and Rethink are running 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. Pledge to help end mental health prejudice at 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

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