Time to Change (mental health campaign)

Time to Change
Founded2007
TypeCharitable organisation
FocusMental illness
Location
  • 15–19 Broadway, London
Area served
England
Websitewww.time-to-change.org.uk

Time to Change is a mental health campaign in England, launched in 2007 with the objective of reducing mental health-related stigma and discrimination.

Description

Time to Change (TTC) was formed in 2007[1] by mental health charities MIND and Rethink Mental Illness, aiming to reduce mental health-related stigma and discrimination. A specific objective was to reduce stigma and discrimination by 5 per cent in the first 12 months. The first four years were funded by grants of £20.5 million from the Big Lottery Fund and Comic Relief.[2]

TTC also asked organisations and individuals to sign a pledge supporting its anti-stigma programme. Organisations signing the pledge include the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority, British Gas, British Telecom, Lloyds Banking Group, Ernst & Young, E.ON, PepsiCo and parts of the National Health Service.[3] A pledge event took place at the Houses of Parliament in October 2013, giving MPs an opportunity to sign up.[3]

In 2011, TTC launched a four-week television advertising campaign to promote its new slogan: "It's time to talk. It's Time to Change."[4]

The campaign was fronted by a number of celebrities, including political strategist Alastair Campbell, presenter Davina McCall,[5] singers Shojon, Frankie Sandford, and boxer Ricky Hatton.[6] In 2014, the campaign supported the "Laughing for a Change" project run by actress Janice Connolly, which aimed to promote awareness of mental health through a stand-up comedy tour.[7]

Outcomes

An academic study was carried out to measure whether TTC had met their 5 per cent target in the first 12 months. The study measured "progress toward meeting TTC's target of a 5 per cent reduction in discrimination".[2]

An independent evaluation of the campaign's first four years took place in 2013. Though it found a reduction in discrimination from friends and families, change in attitudes from health professionals was negligible.[8]


Wales

In Wales the campaign was launched in 2012 under the name Time to Change Wales,[9] led by Welsh mental health charities MIND Cymru, Gofal and Hafal.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Who we are". Time to Change. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  2. ^ a b Henderson, Claire; Corker, Elizabeth; Lewis-Holmes, Elanor; Hamilton, Sarah; Flach, Clare; Rose, Diana; Williams, Paul; Pinfold, Vanessa; Thornicroft, Graham (1 May 2012). "England's Time to Change Antistigma Campaign: One-Year Outcomes of Service User-Rated Experiences of Discrimination". Psychiatric Services. 63 (5). American Psychiatric Association: 451–457. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201100422. PMID 22549532. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  3. ^ a b Atkinson, Neil (18 October 2013). "Jason McCartney joins Time to Change mental health campaign". Huddersfield Examiner. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  4. ^ Baker, Rosie (22 March 2011). "Time to Change attempts to end mental health stigma". Marketing Week. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Campaign to get dads fighting mental health taboo". Cambridge News. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  6. ^ Baker, Rosie (20 August 2013). "Frankie Sandford fronts new mental health campaign". Hertfordshire Mercury. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  7. ^ Gill, Becca (1 March 2014). "Review: Laughing for a Change – The Stand, Newcastle". Giggle Beats. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  8. ^ David Brindle (3 April 2013). "Mental health anti-stigma campaign fails to shift health professionals' attitudes". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  9. ^ Scott Buckler (21 February 2012). "Health Minister launches campaign to end mental health discrimination in Wales". Govtoday. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  10. ^ Julia McWatt (9 August 2012). "Charities want better understanding of mental health in Wales' workplaces". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 17 November 2013.