Get Involved
January 2008
This website will not be updated beyond 31 March 2011.
Find out how to access our resources after Shift's closure.
Thank you for your interest in our work
If you would like to help us tackle the stigma and discrimination that surrounds mental health, there are a number of ways you can get involved with our work.
We often ask people to help us. Sometimes, this may be a small task like writing a letter to a local service provider, reading some materials or making a phone call. Other times, there may be opportunities to attend meetings or take part in events in your area.
The best way to find out about tasks we need help with is to follow us via Twitter, Facebook or other social networking site. Find links to the social networking sites that we currently use. If we don't currently use your favourite site and you think we should, please let us know
You can also keep an eye on this page. When we need your help on larger projects, we post information here.
You can take part in as many or as few tasks as you like. If you don't want to take part in the latest task, you can either wait to see if the next one will be of more interest, or visit this page to see if older tasks are still open.
Masthead photo by Dave Bullock. Used under a Creative Commons licence.
Add us to your social networks
December 2008
Do you use websites like Facebook, Flickr and Twitter?
If so, you can add us as a contact to make sure you
hear about our latest work. You can also subscribe to
our video podcast to have our videos automatically
downloaded to your computer.
Shift Update mailing list
Enter your email address in the box below to subscribe to our free newsletter.
Shift Update mailing list
Enter your email address in the box below to subscribe to our free newsletter.
Let Shift's Independent Review Panel help develop your mental health materials for employers
October 2007
Status: Open
Information: Recently there has been an increase in the number mental health information produced for employers - many of very high quality - but with the attendant risk of duplication, employer confusion and in some cases of poor quality which serve to misinform or give unintended but nonetheless harmful messages.
In order to help organisations or individuals who are developing or trying to make such resources more widely available, Shift has asked the Sainsbury Centre to coordinate an Independent Review Panel which will advise on draft materials in development or review finished products against a common, published set of criteria. The service is free, confidential, and submission is entirely voluntary.
The advantages of submitting materials prior to completion are in having the views of experts at an early stage and the avoidance of costly mistakes. The Panel will give priority to advising on materials in development so as not to delay publication. Submission of finished products gives producers the added credibility of a published expert review and free publicity. It will also help producers in decision making about future improvements and new editions. Given that reviews will only be published with the producer's permission and that where a review is not published the submission will remain confidential, there is no risk to the organisation concerned.
How to proceed:
Information: Recently there has been an increase in the number mental health information produced for employers - many of very high quality - but with the attendant risk of duplication, employer confusion and in some cases of poor quality which serve to misinform or give unintended but nonetheless harmful messages.
In order to help organisations or individuals who are developing or trying to make such resources more widely available, Shift has asked the Sainsbury Centre to coordinate an Independent Review Panel which will advise on draft materials in development or review finished products against a common, published set of criteria. The service is free, confidential, and submission is entirely voluntary.
The advantages of submitting materials prior to completion are in having the views of experts at an early stage and the avoidance of costly mistakes. The Panel will give priority to advising on materials in development so as not to delay publication. Submission of finished products gives producers the added credibility of a published expert review and free publicity. It will also help producers in decision making about future improvements and new editions. Given that reviews will only be published with the producer's permission and that where a review is not published the submission will remain confidential, there is no risk to the organisation concerned.
How to proceed:
- For more information and instructions for submitting materials, please see the Shift Review Panel page.
Let us know if you find out about upcoming radio or TV programmes that feature mental health issues
September 2007
Status: Open
Information: We want to make sure that we have as much information as possible about how the media portray mental health issues. We already update our 'Mental Health in the Media' page with news of upcoming TV and radio programmes, but want to make sure that this resource is as complete as possible. If you hear of a programme due for broadcast that we haven't included on our list, please let us know.
How to proceed:
Information: We want to make sure that we have as much information as possible about how the media portray mental health issues. We already update our 'Mental Health in the Media' page with news of upcoming TV and radio programmes, but want to make sure that this resource is as complete as possible. If you hear of a programme due for broadcast that we haven't included on our list, please let us know.
How to proceed:
- If you hear of a programme that we should include on our 'Mental Health in the Media' page, email shift@csip.org.uk with the name of the programme, the broadcast date and channel and a short description.
- Remember that our 'Mental Health in the Media'
page is designed to alert people to programmes before
they are shown. If you have seen a programme and you
would like to comment on it, we would still be
interested to hear your views. You can also find out
how to praise or complain about TV and radio
programmes on our 'Responding
to Media Coverage' page.
Sign up as a Shift Media Monitor
August 2007
Status: Open
Information: Shift's Media Monitor service has been designed to help the media to produce a more accurate picture of mental health. It does this by encouraging people to make contact with journalists, editors and programme makers, explaining to them how their coverage of mental health issues makes people feel.
We would like people to let us know when they see coverage in the media that they feel is particularly good or bad. We would also like people to sign up as Media Monitors. We send alerts about good or bad articles and reports to Media Monitors with instructions how they can send praise or complain to the people responsible.
How to proceed:
Information: Shift's Media Monitor service has been designed to help the media to produce a more accurate picture of mental health. It does this by encouraging people to make contact with journalists, editors and programme makers, explaining to them how their coverage of mental health issues makes people feel.
We would like people to let us know when they see coverage in the media that they feel is particularly good or bad. We would also like people to sign up as Media Monitors. We send alerts about good or bad articles and reports to Media Monitors with instructions how they can send praise or complain to the people responsible.
How to proceed:
- Find out more on our Media Monitor page.
- If you send a comment or complaint to the people responsible for an article or report, we'd appreciate it if you could send copies of any emails or letters to us. See the Get In Touch page for all our contact details.
Tell us your positive experiences of employers and organisations
May 2007
Status: Open
Information: This month, we would like to hear about your positive experiences of organisations and employers and their attitudes and policies towards mental health issues. We would like to be able to use your experiences to help us understand what other organisations can do to help overcome the stigma and discrimination that surrounds mental health.
With your permission, we may also use some of your quotes and examples when talking with the general public and health professionals about issues surrounding stigma and discrimination.
How to proceed:
We would like to hear your experiences if you live in England and:
Write your experiences down in a short email or letter. You don't need lots of detail at this stage; if we want to know more, we can get in touch with you at a later point.
It is very important that you let us know if you are happy for us to share your quote with other people. We may also want to use your quote in leaflets or other materials produced by Shift. Unless you say otherwise, we will only give your first name and the county that you live in. If you prefer, we can use a pretend name.
You can send your comments to us by email or post. See the Get In Touch page for all our contact details.
Information: This month, we would like to hear about your positive experiences of organisations and employers and their attitudes and policies towards mental health issues. We would like to be able to use your experiences to help us understand what other organisations can do to help overcome the stigma and discrimination that surrounds mental health.
With your permission, we may also use some of your quotes and examples when talking with the general public and health professionals about issues surrounding stigma and discrimination.
How to proceed:
We would like to hear your experiences if you live in England and:
- You would like to tell us about an organisation that has impressed you with their positive attitude towards people with experience of mental health issues.
- You have noticed an employer or organisation change their policies in a way that reduces stigma and discrimination against people with experience of mental health issues.
- If you have been in touch with an organisation to point out a policy that discriminated against people with experience of mental health issues, and were successful in getting that policy changed.
- If you have suggestions for ways in which organisations and employers can improve their attitudes towards people with experience of mental health issues.
Write your experiences down in a short email or letter. You don't need lots of detail at this stage; if we want to know more, we can get in touch with you at a later point.
It is very important that you let us know if you are happy for us to share your quote with other people. We may also want to use your quote in leaflets or other materials produced by Shift. Unless you say otherwise, we will only give your first name and the county that you live in. If you prefer, we can use a pretend name.
You can send your comments to us by email or post. See the Get In Touch page for all our contact details.
