Stigma is a set of negative attitudes, pre-judgements and behaviour. For people living with a mental health condition, stigma can negatively affect relationships, work, education and the chance to live a normal life. Something that others often take for granted.
Many people who experience stigma say that it can make their physical and mental health worse, leaving them unable to seek the help they need to manage their condition or make a recovery. They can feel isolated and excluded from everyday activities.
In our survey here in the Falklands, 40.5% of the people who responded said that they had been treated negatively because of their mental health condition. 39% said stigma and discrimination stopped them from doing things that they wanted to do and the fear of stigma or discrimination prevented 46% from doing things they wanted to do from applying for jobs, to attending social events, being able to have open conversations with friends or family, participating in sports clubs or activities and feeling they needed to keep their mental health concerns a secret.
That's why we have launched the Wide Skies, Open Minds campaign to tackle mental health stigma in the Falklands.
What do we want the campaign to do?
We want to get the whole Falkland Islands community talking openly about all our mental health. With our wide skies as its backdrop, Wide Skies, Open Minds draws on the power of our community and connection to bring mental health into the open.
Here are some ways to get informed, get involved and get talking.
Learn about mental health – we can educate ourselves about mental health and share facts from trusted resources such as the Mental Health Foundation Explore mental health, helping to break down some of those commonly held myths and stereotypes
Use words carefully – our words matter, consider the terminology and words we are using and how they can impact people
Share your story – If you have lived or living experience of mental health challenges, sharing your story or elements of your story in a way that feels safe and supported has been shown to be one of the most powerful ways to reduce stigma
Take part in Wide Skies, Open Minds – all our materials are free to use and share, from our logos to our leaflets and MythBusters postcards. Here are some actions you can take to get involved now:
1. Show those living with mental health conditions that you care. Use our logo and strap line, for example by adding our logo to your sports club kit, your workplace sleeve or a decal sticker on your company vehicles. Simply email us to request permission to use and share any photos or social media posts with us where you are using the brand by using the hash tag #wideskiesopenminds.
2. Contribute to our social media campaign by submitting a photo of your company, sports club, morning coffee group, family, group of friends with our campaign speech bubble with your message of support. You will find full details to help you to plan your photo on our Downloads page, but briefly, we are looking for submissions taken outside against our wide sky where possible.
3. Messages of support should reference talking to each other about mental health, checking in with each other regularly, or other ways to express the main message of our campaign. And don’t forget to tag the campaign #wideskiesopenminds.
4. You can also make a photo submission to be part of our poster campaign. Just send us a photo and your quote and if you like the name of your group/organisation. As with social media submissions above, you will find full details to help you to plan your ‘Wide Skies’ photo on our Downloads page,. Quotes should follow the same guidance as point above, to fit with our campaign message about being open with each other.
5. If you are living with a mental health condition, you may wish to share elements of your story in the local press or on your social media with the hash tag #wideskiesopenminds. Please do make sure that you have support in place from your support network if you share your story.
6. Download all campaign materials here.
We have some more detailed guidelines around photo submissions, these can be downloaded from Downloads (falklands.gov.fk) or email us
Where can I go for help and advice for my own mental health?
If you would like support and advice for your own mental health, please reach out to the service providers;
Your GP, practice nurse or healthcare provider, Tel 28000
OR
The Emotional Wellbeing Service, Tel 28082 or email [email protected]
OR
For out of hours emergencies please contact Tel 28000
The Samaritans (UK) free helpline is available 24/7 on Tel 51515, for anyone experiencing emotional distress
