Monthly Archives: July 2016

‘EACH of Us Campaign’ – Debunking Myths about Mental Health

1 in 4 adults will experience mental health problems. EPF member Mental Health Europe set up a campaign to end stigma and raise awareness of mental health.

Each of us is part of the solution – Let’s end mental health stigma together’ so goes the tagline of the awareness-raising campaign run by Mental Health Europe (MHE). Focusing on 10 myths about mental health problems, MHE has developed a campaign to debunk prejudices and stereotypes by providing simple figures and facts. The campaign will also encourage people to share their own story with mental health to inspire others to openly talk about it. “Our aim is to change people’s minds and misconceptions about mental health problems, which are way more common than we think”, says MHE’s Communications Officer Ophélie Martin.

The appealing tagline ‘Each of Us’ recalls that each of us may experience mental distress at some point in life. In this regard, figures show that 1 in 4 people may encounter a mental health problem during their lifetimes, and 1 in 5 adolescents is affected by at least one psychological problem in any given year.

The objective of the campaign is to make people understand that having mental health problems does not mean that one cannot or should not participate in life and society. In fact, what MHE aims is to achieve a Europe where people with mental health problems live as full citizens and have full access to appropriate services and support. To this end, the campaign is a long-term project and is expected to evolve throughout the years. Hopefully, with the involvement of policy makers, stakeholders and civil society, goals such as implementing raising-awareness trainings in schools, universities and businesses will be achieved.

Finally, being a European initiative, ‘Each of Us’ complements already existing national anti-stigma campaigns and gives to the topic a different dimension. A European perspective will be particularly useful to encourage more exchange of best practices and dialogue at European level.

EPF supports the campaign and hopes that joint efforts will help to change minds across Europe and to improve the lives of people with mental health problems.

If you want to know more about the campaign and get involved, visit the website. Some of the campaign’s material is already available in different languages. You can also support the campaign only by sharing your own picture and using the #Eachofus hashtag

For more information about Mental Health Europe click here.

 

Contact person:

Sara Gayarre, Communications Intern.