News
Are you being heard? by Frazer Campbell
08/07/2010 08:50:00
Great day
Monday, June 21 was a great day! Advocacy Orkney, along with 8 other
organisations, signed the See Me Pledge, a commitment to challenging the
stigma and discrimination that is often attached to people with mental
health issues. There are statistics that one in four people will have a
mental health issue at some point in their life, that's a lot of people.
Prejudice, biased views that are based on little or no knowledge, can
affect the way in which we interact with people. The guest speakers at
the event spoke movingly of their first-hand experiences of how
attitudes towards them changed when it became known that they had a
mental health issue. Friends and work mates avoided them, some even lost
their jobs.
Advocacy Orkney has pledged to help not only the people who come to us
for support but also our staff and volunteers who, just like 1 in 4 of
the population may well need help because of mental ill-health at some
point in their lives. In light of the financial situation and
predictions that unemployment is going to hit 1.3 million, we would
encourage employers and other organisations to join the See Me campaign.
You can find out more about See Me at www.seemescotland.org.uk or
telephone 0131 554 0218.
If you want to know more about the work of Advocacy Orkney contact us on
01856 870111.