FARMERS FEEL MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA

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Press Release 17 June 2010

A significant 57% of Irish farmers surveyed would not want others to know if they had a mental health problem, and 42% of farmers would hide a diagnosis of a mental health problem from friends.  45% of farmers would not know what to do to help someone with mental health problems, and 27% would delay seeking help for fear of someone knowing about it.

The ‘Public Attitudes Towards Mental Health Problems’ survey, commissioned for the new mental health stigma and discrimination reduction campaign, See Change and co-funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention and the National Disability Authority, is a benchmark study on Irish public attitudes to mental health problems in advance of the roll-out of See Change’s activities over the next two years.

Other findings in the report include

• 33% of the Irish public thinks that someone with schizophrenia should not have children
• 2 in 3 strongly agree that those with mental health problems should have the same rights as others but only 46% say this is in respect of job rights
• Over 1 in 2 think mental health issues very common but not well understood
• 16% would hide diagnosis from their family
• 7% say a partner would break up with them as a result of diagnosis 

The survey is being launched at today’s (17th June 2010) ‘Partners on the Ground’ event in Dublin, which is bringing hundreds of people together to hear about the See Change campaign and find out how they can get involved. The campaign aims to get mental health issues onto the national agenda as the social justice issue of the 21st century. Lending their support to the event is Claire Byrne, Newstalk Broadcaster and singer Frances Black.

John Saunders, Director of See Change, said: “today’s figures are being used as the baseline, against which we will measure the impact of See Change – but, this is just the beginning. There needs to be long term investment for a campaign that delivers real change over the next 10 to 15 years. I believe the Irish public is open to change and that now is time to take action and end mental health prejudice and intolerance once and for all.”

The See Change campaign is Ireland’s most ambitious programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination.   The See Change campaign consists of 35 partner organisations.

FOR INFORMATION AND COMMENT CALL

John Saunders, Director of See Change and Shine on 0879271292; 0868525158; or 0868525558 jsaunders@shineonline.ie

NOTES TO EDITORS

1.    All figures are from Millward Brown Landsdowne.  Total sample size was 977 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken 14 - 24 April 2010.  The study was quota controlled in terms of gender, age, social class and region, to reflect the actual demographics of the adult population. Interviews were conducted at 64 sampling points, representative of the size and spread of urban and rural localities nationwide.

2.    See Change is Ireland’s new national programme working to positively change social attitudes and behaviour so that there is a reduction of stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems, ensuring that everyone enjoys the same rights on an equal basis. For further information go to www.seechange.ie 

3.    See Change consists of 35 partner organisations working together in order to bring about positive change in public attitudes and behaviours towards people with mental health problems in Ireland. The partner organisations include: Department of Health and Children, IBEC, St. Patrick’s University Hospital, Shine – Supporting People Affected by Mental Ill Health, Amnesty International (Irish Section), Bodywhys, Inspire Ireland Foundation/ReachOut.Com, Irish Advocacy Network, HSE, Detect Early Intervention Service, Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, Mental Health Commission, HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention, National Service Users Executive, Irish Sports Council, National Disability Authority, DCU School of Nursing, Grow in Ireland, Headline – the National Media Monitoring Programme for Mental Health & Suicide, Equality Authority, The College of Psychiatry of Ireland, Headstrong, Student Union UCC, Mental Health Ireland, PCI College, Irish Farmer’s Association, The Irish College of General Practitioners, Suicide or Survive Ltd (SOS), Cork Counselling Service, Gateway Mental Health Project, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, People with Disabilities in Ireland, Turn2me.ie, SpunOut.ie, and Please Talk

4.    See Change is supported financially through the Department of Health and Children through the National Lottery, St. Patrick’s University Hospital, the Mental Health Commission, the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention, St John of God Hospital