(l-r) Zaffer Khan Communications manager One Voice Blackburn, Lauren Oakland Business Development Manager Lancashire Mind, Cathy Fisk Public Health Development Manager Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Emma Lord, Service Delivery Manager Lancashire Mind.
Published Friday 10 November 2017 at 11:14
Lancashire Mind, Blackburn with Darwen Council and One Voice are joining forces on a new initiative which aims to end mental health discrimination.
Blackburn with Darwen has been named a Time to Change Hub with partners committing to work together to improve local attitudes and behaviours towards people experiencing mental health problems.
The Hub has been created using insights from the national Time to Change campaign, run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, combined with knowledge gained from the local community. It will help to reduce discrimination and enable more people to take action to challenge stigma and discrimination across the borough.
Partners will work with local individuals, schools, workplaces and community groups on the project.
Time to Change Champions are also being sought to work at the heart of the Blackburn with Darwen Time to Change Hub.
These champions will be local people with lived-in experience of mental health conditions who are passionate about changing attitudes towards mental health in their community.
Time to Talk grants of between £50-£250 are available to help groups or individuals to deliver social contact activities to contribute towards ending mental health discrimination in Blackburn with Darwen.
Local employers are also encouraged to sign up to the Time to Change Employer Pledge which demonstrates an employer’s commitment to changing how we think and act about mental health in the workplace and make sure that employees who are facing these problems feel supported.
On signing up, Lancashire Mind will work with the employer to develop an action plan to get employees talking about mental health. This could include small actions such as running events for World Mental Health Day, to larger ones such as training line managers so they feel comfortable having conversations about mental health with their line reports.
Emma Lord, Service Delivery Manager for Lancashire Mind, said:
We thank Blackburn with Darwen Council for recognising the benefits a Time to Change Hub will bring to this area and for enabling Lancashire Mind and One Voice Blackburn to make the Hub a reality for local people. We believe that the Time to Change Hub will be invaluable in helping us to reach even more people whether that is through community events, the workplace or schools.
We are keen to hear from individuals, employers, schools and community groups who may like to get involved and help Lancashire Mind and our partners to revolutionise attitudes and challenge perceptions towards mental health conditions and ultimately help those across Blackburn with Darwen to take care of their mental health.
Councillor Brian Taylor, Assistant Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care and mental health champion, said:
I’m delighted we can be involved in Blackburn with Darwen’s Time to Change Hub in close cooperation with Lancashire Mind and One Voice. This is vitally important work; mental health is as important as physical health and we shouldn’t be ashamed to talk about it. We have a range of services to offer help and support, and by combatting mental health stigma we hope that people who need to feel more comfortable accessing the help they need.
If you are an employer, school, community organisation or individual interested in getting involved in the Blackburn with Darwen Time to Change Hub please email admin@lancashiremind.org.uk or call (01257) 231660.