Between Monday 10th March – Friday 14th March (Excluding Wednesday 12th March), across the Aylesbury, High Wycombe, and Uxbridge campus, we will be running stalls for students to join in to break the stigma around mental health. These stalls will provide facts, information and signposting around mental health.
- Mind (2024) found that 1 in 4 people will experience a Mental Health problem.
- The Mental Health Foundation (2024) shared that 20% of adolescents may experience a Mental Health problem in any year.
- Students Minds (2024) reported that nearly 50% of young people enter higher education, with approximately 1 in 4 reporting having a diagnosed Mental Health Issue whilst at university, and 1 in 4 students don’t know where to get Mental Health Support.
Remember mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. It can be frustrating and upsetting in a situation where people are using misconception against you. These misconceptions are not a reflection of your person. Stigma can be overcome with the right information, and sharing facts and experiences, if you are comfortable.
If you are comfortable, share your story. You could say you are open to talking about mental health (this could be from a personal or secondary perspective – you know someone with a diagnosis). This could help clear any misconceptions or answer any questions.
Challenge stigma by having social contact. Have conversations with others, listen to what they are telling you. You can also read or watch to listen about another person’s experiences to educate too. By contacting socially, you can focus on the person and not the label they are given. Avoiding any negative assumption associated with it. Having a conversation can boost confidence and show others that you are ready listen. You can find out more here: https://www.seemescotland.org/stigma-discrimination/talking-about-mental-health or here: https://timetotalkday.co.uk/tips-to-talk/
Educating yourself and others about the facts of mental health helps to dispel myths and negative associations with mental health. This supports you and others to understand and support others who are living with mental health illnesses.
Stigmas can have negative impacts and you can challenge them as you see or hear them.
Join us in ‘breaking the stigma’ by heading to one of our stalls based in Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Uxbridge.