I hear a lot of comments as I do the rounds of my training, a lot of thoughts and opinions, pre-judgements about mental health. Some thoughtful, insightful, some stigmatised/stigmatising, offensive and downright wrong. That’s ok. People come to learn about mental health, I want them to air their thoughts and preconceptions so we can discussContinue reading “Children’s Mental Health Week. A rant.”
Tag Archives: Stigma
Why is challenging stigma the most important part of what I do?
Stigma stops people thinking about Mental Health Stigma stops people learning about Mental Health Stigma stops people recognising when their mental health is deteriorating Stigma stops people recognising when their friends / family are suffering Stigma stops people accepting they have a Mental Health issue Stigma stops people telling their friends they are struggling StigmaContinue reading “Why is challenging stigma the most important part of what I do?”
Mental Health and Violence
Today again the headlines are full of mourning for the victims of another school shooting in the USA. Questions are being asked about how to stop such horrors. From across the ocean in the UK, where guns are strictly regulated and not widely available – the US obsession with firearms despite the terrible price, isContinue reading “Mental Health and Violence”
Mental Health Awareness – A good thing?
I’ve been observing a few conversations recently about whether the rise of Mental Health Awareness campaigns and training are a good thing. It’s interesting and a bit puzzling to me, so I’ve been giving it some thought. I think the crux of the argument for many is that what is needed most is more /Continue reading “Mental Health Awareness – A good thing?”
Making a difference – MHFA at Leeds Mencap
It dawned on me with some surprise that I’ve been an MHFA trainer for over two years now – I’ve run around 18 courses I think, in Leeds, London, Burnley. I’ve had three different co-trainers, and also run some sessions alone. Varying sized groups, each one different and with its own unique discussions and lessonsContinue reading “Making a difference – MHFA at Leeds Mencap”
To say it’s The Sun, it’s not very bright.
Of course it can’t be merely coincidental. That only a week or two after the Almighty twitter storm that brewed up over Asda, tesco and amazon stocking Halloween costumes with insensitive, stigmatising names, The Sun decides to run a front page proclaiming “1200 killed by mental patients“. Ok. Maybe it’s progress. A few years agoContinue reading “To say it’s The Sun, it’s not very bright.”