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Equality and human rights - protecting people from discrimination

People with experience of mental distress regularly face stigma and discrimination, denying them the opportunity to live their lives to the full. People might be discriminated against by employers, landlords, service providers like shops, restaurants or insurance companies, public authorities like a local council or the NHS, or anyone in society.

I used to work in a shop, I was doing well there, but when I said I had bipolar disorder the manager made it clear he didn’t want me working there. He was always criticizing me, he was rude to me in front of other staff [...] In the end I had to resign.

Campaigning for better legal protection

Disability discrimination law and the Human Rights Act prohibit discrimination against disabled people, including people with mental health problems. Yet some people with mental distress remain unprotected. Mind wants to improve the law to ensure everyone with mental distress receives fair and equal treatment and can enjoy a life free from discrimination.

Mind is calling for:

  • A strong Equality Bill which builds on the Disability Discrimination Act and increases the legal protection for disabled people - specifically, which bans the use of pre-employment health questionnaires by employers.
  • All political parties to publicly support the Human Rights Act and oppose any proposals to repeal it, as the Act can often be crucial in protecting the fundamental rights of people with mental distress.