Posted: Monday 20 June 2011
Lord Melvyn Bragg will be stepping down from his position as president of the mental health charity Mind later this year after 15 years’ service.
Watch Lord Bragg speak about his decision on BBC Breakfast
Lord Bragg said: It's been a privilege to work with such dedicated and talented people at Mind. It is they and many supporters, especially in the media, who have driven away much of the unfair and crippling stigma associated with depression and other forms of mental illness.
There has been a sea change and I am proud to have been part of it. But I think 15 years is long enough and it's time to hand over to someone who can bring new energy to the job. My final job was to find a successor, which I have done. Their name will be announced in a few weeks.
Mind's Chief Executive Paul Farmer said: We would like to thank Lord Bragg for his commitment to Mind and the fantastic work he has done over the last 15 years to champion the rights of people with mental health problems. He has been an inspirational campaigner, helping to tackle the stigma that exists around mental health and bringing it into the public consciousness.
Under Lord Bragg's leadership we have seen some dramatic changes including the country's first campaign to tackle mental health stigma Time to Change, improved safety on inpatient wards due to Mind's Ward Watch campaign and a ban on prescribing Seroxat to children. He was also instrumental in helping us achieve significant safeguards for people with mental health problems in the 20007 Mental Health Act.
We wish Lord Bragg all the best for the future and thank him once again on behalf of Mind staff, volunteers and our beneficiaries for his loyal service.