Witney News - Council pledges support for mental health campaign

Council pledges support for mental health campaign

West Oxfordshire District Council is joining the national ‘Time to Change’ campaign to end stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health.

The Council is against discrimination of anyone, on any grounds, and has made a campaign pledge to show its commitment to this and further help tackle discrimination in any way that it can.

The pledge was put forward as a motion at a meeting of the Full Council last week by Deputy Leader Cllr Mark Booty, who is Cabinet Member with responsibility for Health, and seconded by Cllr Barry Norton, Leader of the Council.

Time to Change is run by the mental health charities, Mind and Rethink Mental Health, and is funded by the Department of Health and Comic Relief, as part of an on-going campaign originally set up with Big Lottery funding.

Although mental health problems are common in the UK, nearly nine out of ten people who experience them say they face stigma and discrimination as a result. Some find this worse that the symptoms of their problem.

Following the Council’s agreement to accept the motion to support the campaign, Cllr Booty said: “The Council has always been against any kind of discrimination against our residents or anyone else, on any grounds. This is taken into consideration in everything we do.

“Joining this campaign re-emphasises our commitment to anti-discrimination and simply means we are not just doing it, but stating that we are doing it as well. It also illustrates our commitment to further helping to change any culture of discrimination that exists.”

Time to Change aims to change behaviour, rather than just attitudes, about mental health, reduce discrimination and increase confidence among those with mental health problems to address discrimination.

Many other organisations are also involved in the campaign, including other local authorities, NHS trusts, universities, and large private sector companies. Thousands of individuals have also made pledges.
For more information about the campaign, visit www.time-to-change.org.uk or call 0208 215 2356.