During a gathering of service users, MLAs and members of the Northern Ireland Executive, Inspire welcomed the backing of elected representatives from all parties as they endorsed the campaign objectives and heard from individuals with lived experience of mental illness.
Minister of Health Mike Nesbitt MLA also addressed attendees, praising efforts to tackle mental health-related stigma, shame and discrimination, and stressing the importance of collaboration.
If It’s Okay first opened in 2024, as part of a joint initiative of the UK Anti-Stigma Alliance. It is being led in Scotland by See Me and in Wales by Time to Change Wales. All three partners are encouraging everyone in their respective regions to play a role in helping to end the shame often experienced by people living with mental ill health.
Phase two of the campaign, which aims to tackle stigma and shame around mental illness, is now underway. This year, Inspire is calling on elected representatives throughout Northern Ireland to sign up to five pledges: supporting the full funding and implementation of the Mental Health Strategy; avoiding stigmatising language and challenging such language when used by others; learning more about serious mental illness; visiting services for people living with serious mental illness; and offering non-judgemental, informed support.
“It’s okay not to be okay” is a familiar line in mental health campaigning. It is credited with giving people the courage to be more open about their mental health. However, for many with experience of more complex conditions, that phrase does not always ring true.
Last year, in order to support the campaign, Censuswide polled 504 adults in Northern Ireland. A significant majority (64%) of respondents with experience of mental ill health said that they had felt shame because of it.
Just over half (53%) agreed that mental illness is negatively portrayed in the media and a similar portion of the population (54%) believes that there is still a great deal or fair amount of shame associated with the subject. Additionally, seven in 10 (70%) feel that society should be more sensitive when talking about mental health.
The findings highlighted concerning opinions too. A quarter (26%) of those canvassed consider “Totally OCD” an acceptable everyday term; 27% expressed the same view about the word “Crazy”. “Nuts” (24%) and “A bit mental” (21%) followed closely behind.
Kerry Anthony MBE, CEO of Inspire, said:
“At Inspire, we believe that no one should feel shame because they live with mental ill health. Our call to action with this campaign is clear: mean what you say when you say ‘It’s okay not to be okay’. As community leaders, politicians have an important role to play in setting an example to tackle stigma and discrimination.
“Our campaign launch saw people from services across Northern Ireland come to Parliament Buildings to meet with elected representatives and ask them play their part in ending the shame and stigma that is still associated with mental ill health.”
Mike Nesbitt MLA, Minister of Health, said:
“I have been very clear since taking up this role that mental health is, and will continue to be, one of my top areas of focus. I want to applaud the amazing work which has been achieved through all those involved with Inspire’s campaign to date.
“I have spoken before about the important role that charities and the voluntary sector play in supporting our health service and the need for collaboration across all sectors to improve health outcomes for everyone in Northern Ireland. Let us continue to work together in the true spirit of collaboration and continue to deliver real change for those in our communities that need it most.”
