Necessity of the Programme
Why to create a campaign to combat mental health stigma in public discourse?
From our experience and from the desk and field research we conducted during the project, we found that stigmatizing media and public discourse is persisting. We found that its effects contribute to the reproduction of stereotypes which, in turn, cause exclusion and intensify discrimination against people with mental health problems, in various areas of life: education, work, social, cultural, political life.
Based on this data, we have considered that there is a great need to strengthen the advocacy and “watchdog” role of civil society to address these phenomena.
Content of the Programme
In collaboration with our partners, in the framework of the project and campaign "Erasing the stigma. Upon our word", we designed a set of actions and tools to help prevent the exclusion of people with mental health problems, and to eliminate discrimination.
The results in summary are:
● Desk research based on archival material of publications in the media and television broadcasts of the recent past.
● Field research with focus groups of mental health service users.
● Educational materials and awareness-raising tools:
- Audiovisual material (video): 'labels are not for people' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT-WswvH7OM&t=17s for the general public and: "print the news, not the stigma" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyH_YqQ8HhY for journalists.
- Library: 4 Guides for professionals on the proper use of language in mental health and the protection of the rights of people with psychosocial problems:
You can download the guides here:
https://svinoumetostigma.gr/vivliothiki/
Guide "Media and Mental Health", Guide "Step by Step: Mental Health Stigma & Discrimination: Becoming Informed and Protected", Guide "14+1 points for media coverage of mental health issues: how to write and present mental health issues to prevent stigma", Guide "Language and Disability - The Case of Mental Health. Principles for inclusive language in legislation, in the public sphere and in the media"
- Three (3) texts of recommendations with accompanying institutional interventions aiming at destigmatization, (self-) advocacy (Review of the code of journalistic ethics, Recommendation for the replacement of terms used regarding mental health/mental disability in public documents, Text of recommendations to the National Council for Radio and Television), through collaborative processes (3 round tables with 11 institutional bodies + 2 members from: psychiatric and journalistic community, resulting in the adoption of our proposals or corresponding commitments).
See the Press Release with the Commitments here:
ΕΣΗΕΑ και ΕΣΡ στηρίζουν τις προσπάθειες καταπολέμησης του στίγματος ψυχικής υγείας στο δημόσιο λόγο - Σβήνουμε το στίγμα (svinoumetostigma.gr)
See the adoption of our recommendations for inclusive language here:
Εκθέσεις - Πορίσματα - Ειδική Επιτροπή Ελέγχου Προστασίας των Δικαιωμάτων των Ατόμων με Ψυχικές Διαταραχές - Υπουργείο Υγείας (moh.gov.gr)
● Training material used for seven (7) seminars to specific audiences (journalists, media content producers, mental health professionals): 218 trainees.
- Targeted campaign to promote advocacy in relation to stigmatising speech, with significant impact: FB Engagements: 61.434, Website visits: 10,589, Video views (YouTube+FB): 204.342. Our campaign was replicated by 46 media.
● Mobilisation of Civil Society Organizations:
Our material was replicated by 46 organizations. Petition campaign: 960 signatures.
Operation of a Voluntary Advocacy Group with 12 Non Profit Organizations: 5 meetings, Workshop: "Advocacy, self-advocacy & stigma", involving institutional stakeholders, participation in institutional lobbying and joint publications highlighting stigmatizing discourse
● Publicity actions: 12 articles/broadcasts/interviews, in electronic media, radio, TV, 5 press releases, 261 posts on fb, twitter, site, 5 youtube videos.
Innovation
The innovation of the project "Erasing the Stigma. Upon our word" is highlighted through the integration of multidimensional strategies, means and tools that combine education, awareness-raising and the active involvement of civil society.
Central to the innovation is the production and use of audiovisual materials, such as the videos "Labels are not for people" and "Print the news, not the stigma", which reach the general public and media professionals in a creative and insightful way, promoting very powerful and impactful messages. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT-WswvH7OM&t=17s και https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyH_YqQ8HhY
In addition, the project developed specialised guides and training materials aimed at journalists, with the aim of promoting the correct use of language and preventing stigmatising language. These guides provide instant access to mental health information and resources, thus facilitating the dissemination of messages and active user participation. Dowload the user - friendly guides: https://svinoumetostigma.gr/vivliothiki/
This innovative approach involves the active participation of people with psychosocial problems, giving them a voice and a role in the development of advocacy tools and project activities, in every step of the project, in every action.
Another innovation of the project concerned the institutional interventions through: recommendations, roundtables with the participation of all interested stakeholders and actions to strengthen the “watchdog” role of the Civil Society. Through the aforementioned actions, the project aimed to promote important institutional changes and strengthen the protection of the rights of people with psychosocial problems.
See the Press Release with the Commitments here:
ΕΣΗΕΑ και ΕΣΡ στηρίζουν τις προσπάθειες καταπολέμησης του στίγματος ψυχικής υγείας στο δημόσιο λόγο - Σβήνουμε το στίγμα (svinoumetostigma.gr)
See the adoption of our recommendations for inclusive language here:
Εκθέσεις - Πορίσματα - Ειδική Επιτροπή Ελέγχου Προστασίας των Δικαιωμάτων των Ατόμων με Ψυχικές Διαταραχές - Υπουργείο Υγείας (moh.gov.gr)
The creative use of social media to promote the campaign and the creation of materials aimed at both the general public and specific professional groups underlines the project's innovation and flexibility in achieving its objectives. See the significant impact of our messange: FB Engagements: 61.434, website visits: 10,589, video views (YouTube+FB): 204.342. Our campaign was replicated by 46 Media.
These actions managed to reach a very large audience, in institutions as well, generating a substantial social impact and making a decisive contribution to combating stigma and defending the rights of people with psychosocial problems.
Sustainability
The SSP P. Sakellaropoulos has as a standing policy to utilize the products of the projects and to provide the society with its scientific work with multiplier benefit.
In this context, we submitted the published material of the project "Erasing the stigma Upon our word" to the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP) for further utilization, with the necessary suggestions for adaptations for the school community. The utilization of the project material will increase its sustainability and social impact.
Our organisation has systematic community awareness actions concerning the general population and specific stakeholders (local government, police, judges and prosecutors, doctors of other specialities, etc.) with the main objective of destigmatisation and equal integration of people with psychosocial problems. The project material is systematically used in these actions, as a creative and influencial material.
The model of institutional interventions used in the project remains a valuable tool for the advocacy and lobbying efforts of SSP P. Sakellaropoulos regarding rights in mental health and the fight against stigma. This model can be beneficial as a paradigm of the dialogue between institutions/decision making centers and the Civil Society.
Our organisation is a member of important National Networks and Federations and European Networks, and exchanges expertise with many organisations abroad. In all relevant cooperation we promote the tools of the project.
All tools remain posted on the project website, linked to the organisation's website and can be used by stakeholders.
The sustainability is also supported and promoted by our project partners also
