Squash Stigma launches with a bang and a squeak!

Cambridge students attempted to create a world record for the loudest noise produced by balloons being let off in the air to help launch our Squash Stigma in mental health campaign.

The Squash Stigma campaign was launched at Hills Road Sixth Form College on the 6th April. The noise level from the balloons being let off was measured by students from the physics department. The launch also gave students the chance to talk to experts about different mental health problems such as depression, eating disorders and stress. The launch countdown was done by Anne Campbell, chair of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.  Hear the BBC interview here.

The event was a real success, it was great to see so many young people interested and talking about mental health. Mental health problems affect one in four people at some point in their lifetime, and through this campaign we hope to help normalise mental health and get young people talking openly about stigma.

What is stigma?

Mental health problems can affect anyone, even young people. These include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, bipolar, autism, ADHD and phobias.

Having mental health problems can change how someone usually feels and behaves. But, just like any other kind of problem, having the support of those around you really helps. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always happen that way.

Being avoided, ignored, talked about, laughed at or bullied – that’s stigma. Like all prejudice it is based on fear and lack of knowledge. People often say that the  stigma is worse than the illness.

Society feels uncomfortable about mental illness. People don’t think of it in the way they think of other illnesses. Due to a lack of understanding, some people believe that someone with a mental illness has a weak character or is dangerous. Even caring for a person with a mental health problem can lead to bullying by friends. 

Often, the only way to know whether someone has been diagnosed with a mental illness is if they tell you. Most people are unaware of how many people with mental health problems they know and encounter every day.  One in four of us will experience a mental illness at some point in our lifetime and research has shown that one in six people at work will have a mental illness (often disguised as back ache etc).  Mental illness affects people of all ages, in all kinds of jobs and at all educational levels.

It’s not fair and we can all help to squash it, which is why the “Squash Stigma” campaign was set up. Our aim is to normalise mental health and squash the stigma often associated with it!

What is the Squash Stigma campaign?

The aim for this project is to create an anti-stigma campaign for young people whilst offering them the opportunity to get involved creatively in spreading the word. The campaign can be broken down into three sections:

Squash Stigma! - poster competition for children aged 7-11
The project offered children aged 7-11 in Cambridge, Peterborough, Huntingdon and Fenland the opportunity to create a new anti-stigma campaign poster. Schools, youth groups, Brownies and holiday clubs were involved with the project, which completed on the 16th March 2011.

Squash Stigma! - graphic design competition
Graphic design students from local universities and colleges battled it out to create the character 'Stigma'. The winner was Matthew Long from Anglia Ruskin University with his fantastic green ogre design. You can see his great designs on the Squash Stigma leaflets, posters, film and on this page!

Squash Stigma! - film
Three talented television production students from Anglia Ruskin University have completed a two-week placement at CPFT. As part of their placement they created a fantastic anti-stigma film, which can be viewed at the bottom of this page. They also made us a great news report for Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which you can also see at the bottom of this page. The films will help to support our campaign on Facebook and YouTube, too!

Don't let stigma get in the way of friendship!

Stigma can often make people feel isolated and lonely. If your friend is going through a tricky time there is lots that you can do to support them.
Here are some top tips for not letting stigma get in the way of friendship:

• The power of listening - Sometimes just having someone there to talk to can make a difference.
• Get informed - Find out about your friend's mental illness by looking online or maybe even asking them about it. The more you understand the more you can help.
• Mind your language - Try to think of the words you use everyday. Calling someone a freak, nutter, weirdo or spazz could really hurt their feelings.
• Inclusion is everything - Include your friend in social activities like going to the cinema, playing a sport or even just hanging out. Even if they say no, keep asking them.
• Treat them the same - You wouldn't treat your friends differently because they had a broken leg or a cold. Just because they have a mental illness doesn't mean they should be treated differently.
• Stand up for your friend - Set an example to the rest of your friends by showing them that you don't agree with bullying. By being a good friend you will find that their attitudes and behaviour will change too.