Overcoming Stigma and Discrimination in the Workplace. Geoff Huggins Scottish Government

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1 Overcoming Stigma and Discrimination in the Workplace Geoff Huggins Scottish Government

2 Scottish Context Creation of Scottish Parliament 1999 Millan Report 2001 National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing 2001 Mental Health Division 2003 Clinical Review of Mental Health 2005

3 National Programme Focused on Recovery, social inclusion and health improvement of those with mental illness Promotion of good mental health, reduction of suicide and depression for whole population Partnership with NGOs through see me, Choose Life, Scottish Recovery Network Broadens the approach to mental health

4 Focus on Stigma and Employment Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives Scotland s Mental Health First Aid see me

5 Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives health in the work place Award Programme including Mental Health Commendation Award Partnership with Workforce Plus (which has a focus on learning and mental health disabilities) Supports both job retention and returning to work

7 Scotland s Mental Health First Aid Mental Health First Aid = help provided to a person who may be developing a mental health problem or in a crisis Given until appropriate professional treatment is available or the crisis resolves

8 Does not teach people how to be a therapist, but does train people how to ask people about suicide and to recognise the signs of mental health problems or distress how to provide initial help and to guide someone towards professional help and by doing this promotes an understanding of mental health in the workplace that reduces stigma

9 Results? Training seen as valuable People have improved knowledge and awareness of mental health issues People have increased confidence about recognising problems and taking action Considerable increase in the proportion of participants who said they would help someone with a mental health problem

10 see me. Scotland s national campaign to end the stigma and discrimination of mental illhealth. an alliance of five Scottish mental health organisations fully funded by the Scottish Government

11 Approach Campaigns developed on basis of research TV, radio, posters, cinema advertisements Multiple awards Both national and local activity Long term attitudinal change objectives

22 Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland (2009) Updates National Programme National and local action Clear commitments for Scottish Government and NHS Identifies support agencies and structures for local action

23 Commitments? see me new work on stigma in public services Mental Health Foundation developing toolkit to address stigma of depression in the workplace MHF, NHS Health Scotland and Centre for Healthy Working Lives developing an online mental health improvement awareness course for employers and employees that addresses stigma Increasing focus on local actions

24 Conclusions Work sits in wider context of action on social inclusion, equality, health improvement and better services Consensus on aims and objectives Principles of recovery and inclusion Focus on: Workplace support for those with illness Improving knowledge and skills Tackling general and workplace stigma

An Introduction To Scotland s Mental Health First Aid

An Introduction To Scotland s Mental Health First Aid Aims: Introduce participants to Scotland s Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA) programme within the context of the government s mental health improvement