Shift Speakers' Bureau


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Giving a voice to people with mental health problems


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The Shift Speakers' Bureau is a bank of people who have mental health problems who want to speak out about their experiences in the media and at public events.

Members of the Speakers’ Bureau come from all walks of life and have extraordinary stories to tell. Their accounts help to challenge the myths and stereotypes about mental illness by giving people with mental health problems a voice.

The Shift Speakers' Bureau can provide you with interviewees and conference speakers who can present a range of real-life mental health experiences. Areas include bipolar disorder, manic depression, depression, schizophrenia, self harm, suicide, borderline personality disorder, stress, anxiety and panic attacks, OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anti-natal and post-natal depression, eating disorders and schizo-affective disorder.

Find out more about the people who volunteer for the Shift Speakers' Bureau. Read some short biographies here.

"The Speakers' Bureau contribution has been enormously valued, [helping us] enlighten and educate viewers around various issues relating to mental health and well being."
BBC producer

If you’re looking for a mental health case study or for a conference speaker, please call the bureau on 0845 223 5405 or email speakersbureau@furnercommunications.co.uk



Mind Over Matter

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The Shift Speakers' Bureau was set up in response to a recommendation made in Mind Over Matter, Shift's report into media coverage of mental health issues.

Mind Over Matter found that public understanding of mental health has improved enormously over recent years, as has media reporting. But prejudiced attitudes still remain deeply ingrained in society - and in the media. The report makes a series of recommendations about how media reporting can be improved.

As one of the recommendations, the report asked us to establish a Speakers' Bureau that could be used to help make sure people with mental health problems have their voice heard.

Download Mind Over Matter from the Shift Media Network.

For further information

If you have a specific question about the Shift Speakers Bureau or would like to arrange an interview with one of our speakers, please contact the bureau directly by emailing speakersbureau@furnercommunications.co.uk or by calling the bureau on 0845 223 5405.

If you would like to know more about Shift, you can look at the work we're doing or get in touch.



Masthead photo by Leo Reynolds. Used under a Creative Commons licence.