Mind comments on new public attitudes survey

Posted Thursday 8 May 2008

Commenting on the release of the Department of Health's 2008 survey into public attitudes towards mental ill health, Mind's Chief Executive Paul Farmer said:

"Overall, the general picture is that attitudes towards mental health are at best static - it's the reason why some of the leading mental health charities got together to form Moving People, a campaign aimed at tackling stigma and discrimination towards people with mental health problems.

"People with mental distress are still confronted with a barrage of fear and misunderstanding. Shockingly, the survey shows that more people than ever before are now likely to wrongly associate people with mental health problems and violence, and more people would not want to live next door to someone with a mental health problem.

"The cost of stigma cannot be underestimated - it prevents people from being treated fairly in their workplaces and in their communities, and deters people in distress from seeking help when they are in need.

"Social intolerance of any form is a problem not just for the individual, but for society as a whole. This is a challenge for all of us. The Government, the third sector and individuals need to continue to commit themselves to breaking down these barriers in the long-term."

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