11 October 2022

CNWL’s Lived Experience of Mental Health Issues and Stigma Transformation Network (LEMHIST) launched a campaign yesterday to Stamp Out Stigma related to mental health issues and encourage staff to bring their stories to work.

At a virtual launch event, network Co-Chair's Mel Ball and Dr Nick Priors, shared a film featuring six network members (including themselves) talking about how to reduce stigma in the workplace - their individual stories can now be viewed below.

The campaign is designed to change the narrative highlighting how many people with lived experience bring valuable skills, strengths and assets to CNWL in all sorts of professional roles.  

Mel and Nick encourage all staff to get involved with the campaign by sharing, tweeting, talking about the SOS Campaign in your teams and making a personal SOS Pledge  of how you’ll bring more of who you are and your story to work.

Mel said "You don’t have to “come out” about your mental health if that doesn’t feel safe for you or that may not be your story. We can all do more to make our workplaces easier spaces to say if we’re not okay: let’s actively participate in building teams who show up authentically with each other and share more of themselves. 

"Make a pledge to support the campaign and make it personal: be specific and commit to a personal change that you can start immediately, without needing to check with anyone or commenting on other people’s behaviour or actions."

Pledge examples include

“I am going to speak more often about the realities of being a working parent with my colleagues”.

Avoiding ‘other-ing’ language which sustains stigma.

For instance use “I am going to talk more openly with my direct team if I am having a bad day with my anxiety” instead of “I am going to make the workplace an easier place for people affected by mental health problems to talk out” 

Download the launch event slides here (opens pdf)

See the main film and resources here (opens webpage)

Watch the launch event webinar recording