Nine out of Ten people with mental health problems are prisoners of stigma - shocking new research

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Millions
of people with mental illness are unable to do everyday things like
going to the shops, making new friends or applying for jobs,
groundbreaking research reveals. The pioneering survey of more than
3,000 people with mental health problems clearly reveals that this
includes people you expect to love you unconditionally, your
family, (36%), closely followed by employers (35%), neighbours (31%)
and friends (25%).

At the other end of the discriminators’ league
table, children (5%), teachers (8%), shopkeepers (10%), and public
transport workers (10%) are revealed as the groups who are most
accepting of people with mental health problems (for the full league
table see notes to editors below).

The findings, which will shape a high-profile £18 million mental health anti-stigma campaign, reveal that:

· Nearly nine out of 10 people with mental health problems have been affected by stigma and discrimination, with two thirds saying they have stopped doing things because of the stigma they face.

· Stigma stops people with mental health problems from doing everyday things
such as applying for jobs, making new friends, and going out to pubs
and shops. It can even prevent people from reporting a crime.

· People with mental health problems want the anti-stigma campaign to target schools and the media to change attitudes and reduce prejudice.

· Carers of people with mental health problems also stop doing things because of the stigma and discrimination that they face.

Paul Corry, Rethink’s director of public affairs, says: "Our
research clearly shows that stigma and discrimination are ruining
people’s lives. People with mental health problems have enough on their
plates without facing additional pressure caused by other people’s
archaic and bigoted opinions.

"The Moving People anti-stigma campaign will lay firm
foundations for ending mental health discrimination in the UK, but long
term it is essential that the government ploughs hefty resources into
tackling the problem, as has been done in Scotland and New Zealand. As
an employer, the government could also lead by example and employ more
people with mental health problems within its departments, and
encourage other public sector bodies to do the same."