Shift is an initiative to tackle stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health issues in England. Our aim is to create a society where people who experience mental health problems enjoy the same rights and opportunities as other people.

Shift will now run until March 2011.

++ Media ++

Shift published in February 'What's the story?', a guide for journalists on reporting mental illness and suicide. It was endorsed by key media figures including Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow, chat show host Trisha and the BBC's home editor Mark Easton. It tackles the difficult issue of violence, by encouraging journalists to set violent crime linked to mental illness into the wider context that most people with mental health problems are not violent. More than 10,000 copies of handbook were distributed to journalists across England. Credit-card sized reminders with key tips and a website version were also produced.

To find out more about What's the Story, visit: http://shift.org.uk/mediahandbook

Shift is continuing to operate its Speakers Bureau, a bank of 40 people with mental health problems or informal carers who talk to the media and at public events about their experiences to breakdown stereotypes and pre-conceptions. This year we are recruiting more speakers from a black and minority ethnic background in recognition of the fact that the stigma of mental illness is worse amongst these groups.

To find out more about the Shift Speakers' Bureau, visit: http://shift.org.uk/speakersbureau

We have also published electronically Mind Over Matter 2, our annual analysis of media coverage. This year's report looked at coverage in March and October 2006 and found little improvement in reporting from the previous year. Mind over Matter 3 is due towards the end of this year.

To download a copy of Mind Over Matter 2, visit: http://snipurl.com/mindovermatter2

On-going work includes:

• We have commissioned a consultancy to undertake 12 focus group to examine the role of the media in the shaping public fears of people with mental health problems.
• We plan to deliver training to trainee journalists at post-graduate and vocational journalism courses, as well as potentially delivering it to newspaper groups

Potential future work with the media audience includes:

• Working with the RCPsych and leading mental health charities to change the news agenda around mental illness and violence. We intend to get across the 'other side of the story', stressing that most people with mental health problems are not violent, when the media reports on homicides perpetrated by mental health patients
• We are exploring setting up a 'Stigma Stop Watch' system - a web-based service, encouraging people to praise good reporting and condemn bad.
• Shift will be providing training on reporting mental illness and suicide to trainee journalists at postgraduate training colleges across England from September this year.
• We are considering commissioning a poll of readers of different national newspapers to see how they feel about coverage and how many are affected by mental illness as a way into a discussion with newspapers about coverage of mental health issues
• Shift has commissioned organisations to undertake work on Black and Ethnic Minority Communities that experience a double stigma of mental illness, in the first half of 2008.

Current work includes:

1. Newcastle and Gateshead Art Studio (North East) 'Black and White' a photographic exhibition produced by members of a diverse community in Newcastle.
   This work is due to be completed by the end of May 2008. Photographs will be available for physical exhibitions from the summer and electronically via the Shift website from June.
2. Azko Films (Eastern) 'Open Secrets' a short film about mental illness, shame and a middle class Asian family.
   The film stars Saeed Jaffrey and Valmike Rampersad and is currently being edited and is due to be launched in June.
3. Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust (West Midlands) Qualitative and Quantitative Research Project looking at the coverage of mental health stories in African Caribbean media.
   This work is due to be completed in the summer. The findings are due to be made available on the Shift website from that time.
4. Ethnic Communications (London based firm) Qualitative Research Project looking at the handling of mental health content in the South Asian media.
   This work is due to be completed by the end of May. The findings are due to be made available on the Shift website from the summer.

++ Employment ++

The Shift Line Manager's Resource is being distributed across England with a focus on Government Departments and public services. Shift are speaking at a number of events around the country to promote the resource.

To find out more about the Line Managers' Resource, visit: http://shift.org.uk/employers

The Shift Review Panel has started work and the first reviews of materials produced for employers will be available via the Shift website in the summer. Over 20 sets of materials are currently on the review list. The reviews will enable employers to target the most appropriate resources for their needs.

To find out more about the review panel, visit: http://shift.org.uk/reviewpanel

Shift has commissioned three short films to be made about mental health, employment and stigma/discrimination. The films are due to be completed at the end of the summer.

++ Football ++

Shift is part of the Mental Health Advisory Group set-up in partnership with the FA, PFA, Premier League, Football Foundation and Sporting Chance.

This group is planning to hold a national 2-day event in the autumn around the subject of football and mental health - including a 5-a-side competition.

We are also exploring the possibility of a pilot 2-day training/coaching programme for people with mental health problems.

There is also a facility on the FA and Shift websites that enables teams to contact each other to set-up fixtures.

++ Get Involved ++

The Shift website lists a number of ways in which you can help us with the work that we do.

To find out more, please visit: http://www.shift.org.uk/getinvolved

Tags: shift, update