Do you watch TV and ever want to scream at the television because the portrayals of mental health and mental illness are so terrible? Or have you seen something that you thought was really good? 

Shift has commissioned research into TV portrayals of mental health problems. The researchers want to hear from you about what drama or entertainment programmes in particular you think they should look at. The research is going to be used to persuade programme-makers to portray mental health problems more realistically and avoid relying on stereotypes.

Email antonia.furmston@nmhdu.org.uk with your suggestions. Make sure you include the programme name, what happened, and as much detail as you can about what channel it was on and when it was broadcast.

Also, if you'd like to speak to the researchers as part of their investigation into people's views about TV portrayals, let us know.

Television photograph by Stefan Holodnick. Used under a Creative Commons licence.

Tags: media, research

This week sees the launch of four important publications that will shape how we approach mental health and employment over the coming years.

Working our way to better mental health: a framework for action

Working our way to better mental health is the first ever Great Britain-wide mental health and employment strategy, addressing well-being at work for all and better employment results for people with mental health conditions in and out of work.
For more information and to download a copy of the document, visit the Health, Work and Well-being website

Realising ambitions: Better employment support for people with a mental health condition

Realising ambitions: Better employment support for people with a mental health condition is a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)-commissioned, independent review led by Rachel Perkins. It examines how we can strengthen employment, health and wider state support to help people with mental conditions on out of work benefits.
Download the review and related documents from the DWP website.

Work, Recovery and Inclusion

Work, Recovery and Inclusion is a new government delivery strategy that responds and builds on the recommendations from Realising ambitions. The report is the culmination of the Cabinet Office's Social Exclusion Task Force's work with three other Government departments – Business, Innovation and Skills, the Department of Health and the Department of Work and Pensions. For more information and to download the Work, Recovery and Inclusion report, visit the Cabinet Office website.

New Horizons: A shared vision for mental health

New Horizons: A shared vision for mental health is a cross-government report produced by the Department of Health including commitments to action by 11 government departments. For the first time it sets out a new approach with the twin aims of improving people’s quality of life and well-being, and improving the quality and accessibility of services for people with poor mental health.
For more information and to download a copy of New Horizons, visit the DH website.

Shift's employment resources

Shift has a range of resources to help employers talk about mental health in the workplace and to support and manage staff who have mental health conditions. Shift's resources include:

Companion guide to Working our way to better mental health: a framework for action
The companion guide to Working our way to better mental health was produced by Shift and Health, Work and Well-being (HWWB) and contains a summary of the strategy commitments and up-to-date links to relevant online resources.
Download the document from the HWWB website

Life in the Office films and learning tools
Life in the Office is a series short films designed to promote discussion of mental health and mental illness in the workplace. Employers can also download quizzes and worksheets that can be used as part of education and awareness raising programmes.

Shift Review Panel
The independent Shift Review Panel helps you find the best quality-checked mental health information for employers. The panel can also help organisations looking to produce new materials about mental health and employment.

Shift Line Managers' Resource
Shift's recently updated Line Managers' Resource gives practical advice for managing and supporting people with mental health conditions in the workplace.

Shift Video Seminar
Graham Thornicroft and Diana Rose of the Institute of Psychiatry discuss mental health and employment. Graham and Diana also take part in a role play of a meeting to scope reasonable adjustments for an employee returning to work after a period of illness.

Tags: employment, dh, dwp, hwwb, cabinetoffice, bis, shift

Shift have commissioned the production of a second set of employment films that will be available in the New Year to be used alongside our Life in the Office videos.

The aim of the films is to capture positive stories where employers have effectively supported employees who have or are experiencing mental health problems.

By viewing the films we hope to spread best practice and inform and educate employers on how best to look after the mental well-being of their staff.

January 2010 update
Thank you to everyone who got in touch offering to help us with this project. The response has been fantastic with over 20 people coming forward with positive stories. The filming has now started and the first edits are due to be looked at over the next few weeks. The stories that have been captured on film are inspirational and we hope they will help others see mental health in the workplace in a new light.

If you have any questions about this project, please contact Claire Newall at Shift on 020 7307 2445 or by emailing claire.newall@nmhdu.org.uk.

Tags: employment, films

Tomorrow (4th November 2009) is National Stress Awareness Day. You can help get yourself prepared with Shift's employment materials.

Click the link below for details. Read More...

Tags: employment

Shift are looking for real life accounts from either employees or employers who can talk about what works when managing mental health in the workplace.

These accounts will be filmed and put on our website and on to DVDs for distribution to employers in England.

The films will aim to reduce the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health and are a means to educate, inform and spread best practice. By being filmed you will be making a real contribution towards creating change.

Click here for more about information about the films and to find out how you can get involved.
Read More...

Tags: shift, employment, films, employers, employees

The National Mental Health Development Unit (NMHDU), Shift's parent organisation, has published the first issue of its 'Briefing' newsletter.

The news briefing gives updates on programme developments and related policy and practice news.

You can download Briefing here (PDF)

Tags: nmhdu, briefing

Shift took part in a World Mental Health Day event in Walthamstow, north-east London.



You can see a selection of photos from the day on our Flickr pages.

Gordon Brown also made a statement about the stigma directed towards people with experience of mental health problems:

"The day when anyone with mental illness can live free of the fear of stigma is coming but it is the responsibility of all of us to bring that day about as quickly as possible."

You can read the full statement from the Prime Minister on the official 10 Downing Street website.

Tags: shift, wmhd

Shift has published an updated version of the Line Managers' Resource, a document that gives practical advice to managing and supporting people with mental health conditions in the workplace.

The resource is written for managers and recognises that workplace settings are vast and very diverse. It offers practical advice on managing and supporting people who are experiencing stress, distress and mental health conditions.

You can use it both to learn good practice in preparation for when an employee or employees are off on mental health grounds and to support their return to work.

The resource aims to directly address the fear, ignorance and stigma around engaging with someone experiencing mental health problems. The key message is that it is important to talk openly and with trust. The guide suggests practical steps that you and your employees can take together to:

• match the job requirements with the employee’s capabilities
  
• maintain regular contact with staff to identify any problems early
  
• talk at an early stage of distress to prevent the problem escalating
  
• keep in touch during sickness absence to offer support and plan for the return to work
  
• achieve a successful return to work
  
• manage a long-term illness whilst remaining in work, and
  
• access sources of support and information.

The accompanying website also provides advice and information for employees to help them to assess their own needs and plan for meetings with their manager.

It is part of Shift’s Action on Stigma initiative aimed at supporting employers to promote good mental health and reduce discrimination and is a revised edition of the original Line Managers’ Resource (LMR) published in 2007. The original LMR was itself an update of the Mind Out for Mental Health Line Managers’ Resource published in 2003.

We have produced the resource in partnership with the Department of Health, Department for Work and Pensions, Health and Safety Executive, Cross-Government Health Work Wellbeing Delivery Unit and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Find out more about these partners.

• Visit the Shift Line Managers' Web Resource to read the resource online and to download electronic copies.

Tags: shift, employers, employment, lmr

Click the "Read More..." link below to read this Shift Update newsletter.

If you would like to be sent our Shift Update newsletter by email, send a blank message to: shift-update+subscribe@googlegroups.com. Read More...

Tags: shift, update

Malcolm talks about mental health and takes us on a night out.

Click here to watch the video.

Would you like to be in one of our videocasts?

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, malcolm

In this second video from Donna, she talks about the tearful reaction of a school friend.

Click here to watch the video.

Would you like to be in one of our videocasts?

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, donna

Jeff talks about the reactions of others when they hear about his experience of mental health problems.

Click here to watch the video.

Would you like to be in one of our videocasts?

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, jeff

Nick is a consultant psychiatrist and clinical director who works in the mental health trust where he was once a patient.

In this video, Nick talks about the reactions of friends and colleagues when he tells them of his experience of mental health problems.

Click here to watch the video.

Would you like to be in one of our videocasts?

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, nick

The Shift Speakers' Bureau is looking for new members to talk to journalists and to take part in public events. You will join a team of 50 volunteers who tackle the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental ill health. Training and ongoing support will be provided and all expenses will be paid.

Update: Applications are now closed. Thank you very much for your interest.

Find out more about the Shift Speakers' Bureau here

Tags: speakersbureau

The Shift Review Panel have published their independent review of Shaw Trust's Tackle Mental Health website.

The Shift Review Panel assesses the quality and impact of materials designed to help employers promote mental wellbeing and manage mental ill health in the workplace. The panel is funded by Shift, but operates independently.

The review found that the Tackle Mental Health website:

• Is an excellent one-stop shop packed full of practical information and easy-to-use solutions to help managers to support staff who are dealing with mental health issues.
• Is very well designed and easy to use.
• The website is aimed at employers of any size, and from all sectors.
• The content is factually correct and evidence-based.
• There is a comprehensive section about the DDA and employers’ legal duties related to mental health issues in the workplace, and a full explanation about reasonable adjustments.
• There is a section on creating a healthy workplace, including information about HSE Management Standards and how to tackle stress at work; and guidance on developing a mental health policy. However, there are some gaps in evidence-based good practice here – the section could be revised when the NICE Guidelines on this are published in October 2009.
• Overall a valuable website providing practical and affordable solutions for employers and employees and helping raise awareness about mental health issues in the workplace.
  

You can download the full review of the Tackle Mental Health website here

Visit Shaw Trust's Tackle Mental Health website

Find out more about the Shift Review Panel here

Tags: shift, reviewpanel, scmh, employment, shawtrust

Gina talks about how her anxiety can affect relationships with friends, and also about how the media covers people with experience of mental health problems.

Click the 'read more' link below to watch the video and for more information.

Would you like to be in one of our videocasts?

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, gina

In this first video from Donna, she talks about how people treat her differently when they find out that she has experience of mental health problems.

Click the 'read more' link below to watch the video and for more information.

Would you like to be in one of our videocasts?

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, donna

Chris speaks about the need to properly support mental health in the workplace. He goes on to talk about the ways in which the media can stigmatise people with experience of mental health problems.

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk.

Click the 'read more' link below to watch the video and for more information. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, chris

Our partners at Open Up have asked us to pass on the following message about the Open Up Initiatives Scheme - Time to Change's programme for people with experience of mental health problems who want to challenge mental health discrimination in their area.

Open Up Initiatives Scheme - applications close 15th August

A reminder to all people with experience of mental distress who want to speak out about discrimination - you still have just over 2 weeks left to get your applications in for the Open Up Initiatives Scheme. The Open Up Initiatives Scheme, run by Mind's Open Up project, provides training promotions support, mentoring and help with expenses (around £2500) to people with direct experience who want to get their ideas for challenging mental health discrimination off the ground.

You can download an application pack from the Open Up website - www.open-up.org.uk/initiatives. Flyers are also available for you to distribute if you'd like some. For further information email ouinitiatives@mind.org or call Mind on 020 8519 2122 and ask to speak to a member of the Open Up team.

Open Up is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and is part of Time to Change.

Tags: openup, mind, timetochange

Nick is a consultant psychiatrist and clinical director who works in the mental health trust where he was once a patient.

In this video, Nick talks about positive and negative reporting of mental health issues, and how famous people talking about their experiences of mental health problems have helped increase public understanding.

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk.

Click the 'read more' link below to watch the video and for more information. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, nick

New vision to make mental health everyone’s business

Urban allotments, reading groups and computer training for the over 50s are just some of the good practice initiatives featured as part of a new approach to public mental health and well-being, announced by Care Services Minister Phil Hope today.

‘New Horizons’ marks a new era in mental health. It sets out a dynamic new approach to improving well-being for the whole population, aiming for the first time to create a powerful alliance that can target the root causes of poor mental health.

The consultation launched today was developed with a wide range of partners, all of whom have a vital role to play. As well as health services, the response of local authorities and education will be critical. From schools to employers, and the NHS to the criminal justice system, New Horizons makes mental health everyone’s business.

Click the 'Read More' link below for more information Read More...

Tags: dh, newhorizons

A change in Jane's diagnosis highlights the stigma surrounding mental health problems.

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk.

Click the 'read more' link below to watch the video and for more information. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, jane

Nick is a consultant psychiatrist and clinical director working in the mental health trust where he was once a patient.

In this first video from Nick, he talks about his experiences in the workplace.

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk.

Click the 'read more' link below to watch the video and for more information. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, nick

We're currently updating our Line Managers' Resource booklet and website to further improve the guidance we give to people managing and supporting people with mental health problems in the workplace.

As part of this work, we are looking for real life accounts from either employees or employers who can talk about times where employers have put into practice measures that have promoted and supported the mental well-being of staff. These accounts will be included in the resource and/or website.

Click the 'read more' link below for further information. Read More...

Tags: shift, employment, casestudies

In our first Shift Videocast, Paul talks about his diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the attitudes of the general public towards mental illness.

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk.

Click the 'read more' link below to watch the video and for more information. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, paul

We've just published a new leaflet that gives people an introduction to the problem of stigma and discrimination, talks about Shift and the work that we do and tells people how they can get in touch and get involved.

If you would like to take a look at the leaflet, you can download a PDF version from the Shift Library.

Paper copies of the leaflet can be requested by emailing us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk.

Tags: shift

Shift and the Teacher Support Network are teaming up to produce short, video-diary style films that can be used to give positive examples of schools promoting the mental health of their staff, and also reduce the stigma directed towards people with experience of mental health problems.

If you would like to find out how you can get involved, visit the Teacher Support Network's website.

The Teacher Support Network is a group of independent charities and a social enterprise that provide practical and emotional support to staff in the education sector and their families

Tags: shift

Click the link below to read this Shift Update newsletter. Read More...

Tags: shift, update

Shift's national survey into attitudes towards mental illness has been published.

Find out more about research commissioned by Shift.

Download the full 2009 report from the Department of Health website
See our Research page for links to the full versions of previous attitude surveys

Tags: shift, research

Are you involved in a project that uses football to help support people with experience of mental health problems and spread positive messages about mental health?

The Tony Adams Award will be awarded to the organisation, project or team judged to have made the most significant progress since the Mad About Football tournament and conference in October 2008.

Find out more about the Tony Adams Award and how to nominate your organisation, project or team.

Tags: football, mad about football, tony adams, tony adams award

Our parent organisation, the National Mental Health Delivery Unit, are sponsoring the complex needs category at this year's Guardian Public Service Awards.

Find out more about the event and the complex needs category on the NMHDU website.

Tags: nmhdu

Click the link below to read this Shift Update newsletter. Read More...

Tags: shift, update

The Community Channel will be broadcasting Shift's Life in the Office short films, starting today. The channel will also be showing a new programme in which actor Brett Findlay talks about his role in the films and his own experience of mental health problems.

You can tune in to the Community Channel on Sky channel 539, Virgin TV channel 233 and, between the hours of 6-9am, on Freeview channel 87.

• Find out when Shift's employment films are being shown on the Community Channel
  
• Watch the films online and download related materials
  
• Find out about other upcoming programmes featuring mental health issues

Tags: lifeintheoffice, employment, films

Shift's Life in the Office films are now available free on DVD to employers based in England.

The three short films are designed to promote discussion of mental health and mental illness in the workplace.

Employers based in England can request a free copy of the Life in the Office DVD by emailing employment@nmhdu.org.uk with your postal address.

Online versions of the films, along with quiz sheets and other materials that support the films, can be accessed here.

Click the link below to read this Shift Update newsletter. Read More...

Tags: shift, update

Shift took part in last week’s International Stigma Conference in central London. Organised by the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London and the World Psychiatric Association Scientific Section on Stigma and Mental Illness, the conference brought together service users, carers, practitioners and researchers interested in stigma and discrimination.

Shift showed attendees the following presentation on our current areas of work:


Shift: An Introduction, January 2009 from Shift on Vimeo.

You can also see some photos of our stand at the conference on our Flickr pages.