A NEW initiative to help abolish stigma around mental health issues is being launched in Cumbria today.
The county is one of just four locations in the country to be named a Time to Change hub nationwide.
The government backed scheme aims to bring the NHS, community groups, schools, charities and employers together to change and improve how people view and behave towards those experiencing difficulties with their mental health.
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Cumbria County Councillor Ian Stewart, cabinet member for communities and public health, said: "I’m delighted that CCC, working with partners, has been successful in attracting investment from Time to Change to take forward this ground breaking work.
"Mental ill-health is distressing for those directly and indirectly affected and is a major challenge in our communities.
"Thankfully it is an issue which is increasingly recognised and which people are beginning to feel more comfortable talking about."
Local organisations involved in Cumbria's new Time to Change hub include Cumbria County Council, Mind in Furness Mind in Furness, South Lakeland Mind and the Cumbria Mental Health Provider Forum.
They will work to support work being undertaken within organisations, communities, businesses and schools on the topic of mental health.
Cllr Stewart added: "This initiative puts Cumbria at the forefront of this agenda nationally and promises to be a huge boost to those in our communities who are impacted by mental health problems and all those concerned with this agenda.”
Cumbria is one of four hubs to be launched today along with West Sussex, Leeds and Suffolk.
Over the next three years a further 12 hubs will be established across England to provide a focus for local campaigning work.
Jo Loughran, director of operations at Time to Change, an organisations dedicated to ensuring people affected by mental ill-health have equal opportunities in all aspects of society, said: "We’re really pleased to be working with organisations and individuals across Cumbria as part of this exciting new initiative - to use what we’ve learnt from running a successful campaign to unleash our social movement and harness local knowledge and passion."
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