Improving access to psychological therapy
NHS Black Country
A mental health campaign aiming to remove the stigma of asking for help
Objectives
There are almost a million people within the jurisdiction of the NHS Dudley, Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Walsall mental health trusts who are eligible for free mental health support but may not be making use of it.
Using emotional intelligence
We found that stigma around mental health issues meant that people would rather put on a brave face than admit to experiencing stress, depression or anxiety and find the help they need.
Solution
As we saw it, our job was to tackle the stigma. After all, in England, one in four people experience mental health issues each year. We created a film that showed ordinary people in ordinary situations struggling with a ‘burden’. We made sure to use relatable terms like ‘stress’, ‘not feeling quite right’, or ‘low mood’ rather than cold medical nomenclature that might distance our audience.
Results
The campaign launched on World Mental Health Day – the 10th of October 2020 – and its results are being tracked.
Use the dashboard below for an example of our live reporting as the campaign runs.
