CBM and Time to Change join forces to tackle mental health stigma – World Mental Health Day

CBM has joined forces with Time To Change Global to launch a major new initiative to tackle stigma and discrimination around mental health in Africa and Asia.

The new programme was launched today, on World Mental Health Day, at the Global Mental Health Summit in London, which has brought together health leaders from around the world.

In a new film by Time To Change Global premiered at the summit, Hollywood actor Glenn Close urges policy makers, communities, and individuals around the world to, “start a new global conversation…. and put mental health on an equal footing to physical health”. Watch the film here (open link in new tab):

Time to Change Global – It’s time to talk about mental health transcript (open link in new tab)

Mental health conditions like depression are a major cause of disability and ill-health worldwide, often leading to immense suffering. Those living in poverty are at greatest risk, often facing stigma and discrimination, and are least likely to access treatment.

Through the major new programme announced today, Time to Change Global and CBM will work with local organisations and people with lived experience to promote understanding of mental health and challenge prejudice across the Commonwealth to combat mental health stigma. The campaigns will kick off next year with pilots in India, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda. The programme is supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Comic Relief.

CBM UK CEO, Kirsty Smith, attended the Global Mental Health Summit this week, along with CBM mental health experts, to share CBM’s experience :

CBM's Kirsty Smith, Julian Eaton, Ben Adams, Martyn Illingworth and Carmen Valle standing smiling.

“It is great to see changing attitudes to mental health in the UK. However, much more needs to be done to tackle stigma and discrimination globally. We are delighted to be working with Time to Change to tackle mental health stigma in some of the world’s poorest communities, bringing together Time to Change’s experience of changing attitudes in the UK with CBM’s global expertise.”

Time to Change, an anti-stigma campaign led by UK mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, has seen significant change in attitudes to mental health in England and Wales since its launch in 2007. With funding from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Comic Relief, Time to Change Global will extend its focus to low and lower middle income Commonwealth countries, joining forces with CBM in this exciting new initiative.

CBM is currently delivering mental health programmes in more than 25 low- and middle-income countries, tackling stigma, improving access to community-based support and providing psychological support to people affected by humanitarian crises.

A peer support group talking with the backs of one of their t-shirts reading: "Mental illness is everyone's business. Stop the stigma."

Images: Top – CBM UK CEO, Kirsty Smith and co-founder of Comic Relief, Richard Curtis at the Global Mental Health Summit in London. Middle – (l-r) Kirsty Smith, CBM UK CEO ; Julian Eaton, CBM Global Mental Health Advisor; Ben Adams, CBM Mental Health Programme Advisor; Martyn Illingworth, CBM Integration Director; Carmen Valle, CBM Global Mental Health Advisor. Bottom – Peer support group from CBM partner the Mental Health Users and Carers Association (MeHUCA) in Malawi.



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