Globally, suicide kills more people than malaria. Too often, stigma stops people seeking help and leads to discrimination, exclusion, and human rights abuses.
Time to Change Global – Challenging Stima, Changing Lives
What’s our idea?
1 in 4 people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime, but 70% say the stigma they face is worse than the condition itself.
Our evidence-based ‘Time to Change’ approach empowers ‘Champions’, people with lived experience of mental health conditions, to tell their stories safely; in person and through social media campaigns. They dispel myths, share their experiences and inspire.
It’s time to end the stigma around mental health
In England, Time to Change led to a national sea change in public attitudes and significant reductions in discrimination over 15 years. Our pilots in Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and India have also demonstrated the difference this model can make across the world.
Existing Champions will mentor new Champions, creating a sustainable, peer-led global movement to overcome stigma. As understanding grows, people with mental health conditions will feel safe to seek help, access their rights and thrive.
Why is it innovative?
A unique approach
Our ‘Time to Change Global’ movement will combat stigma using a unique evidence-based combination of lived experience leadership, in-person storytelling and culturally-relevant commercial-style marketing.
Sustainable and Scalable
Champions and NGO partners will form a sustainable movement, sharing best-practice and cascading learning to equip new Champions. Harnessing mass media and influencers will also allow us to scale at a rapid pace, reaching millions of people.
Where will we work?
We will roll out ‘Time to Change Global’ to 35 million people across eight countries. We will scale up in Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and India, and begin working in the Philippines, Zimbabwe, and Nepal.
Who will our partners be?
Lived experience leadership lies at the heart of Time to Change and that’s why people affected by mental health conditions will co-design and deliver the interventions. We’ll collaborate with organisations led by and for people with psychosocial disabilities, amplifying voices that are often marginalised, even within the disability movement.
What do we need?
Without a seismic shift in public attitudes, 1 in 4 people will continue to suffer and society will lose decades of their productive contributions. It takes time to change deep seated prejudices – we must start in new locations now!
To work with us and invest in challenging stigma across the world, please get in touch with our CEO Kirsty Smith.
